Save Water in the Kitchen

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Quick Facts Affordability Cost Savings CO2 Reduction		Reducing the amount of water you use helps protect freshwater resources, reduce the need for water sanitation infrastructure and save you money. There are many things you can do in the kitchen to use water more efficiently. Affordability Most of the ways to conserving water in the kitchen are free, and required only moderate changes to your water use habits. Cost savings Installing a low-flow aerator on your kitchen sink could save you $28 per year in hot water costs. Environmental considerations Fixing water leaks and minimizing water use saves energy and water. If 10,000 B.C. households stopped letting their faucets run between rinsing dishes, while washing their hands, or during other tasks, we could save 130 million litres of water per year. The energy savings would be equivalent to the energy needed to power 100 average Canadian homes for one year.

What you need to know

Washing dishes

• Only run your dishwasher when you have a full load.
• If you are considering purchasing a new dishwasher, look for a water and energy efficient ENERGY STAR® model.
• If you are going to hand wash dishes, don't let the tap water run at full pressure. If you have two sinks, use one for soap washing and the other for rinsing. If you don't have two sinks, turn off the tap between rinses, or load the dishes onto a rack and spray rinse them all at once.

More tips to reduce water use in the kitchen

• Do not let the water run while cleaning produce. Rinse your fruits and vegetables in a pot and use the leftover water to water your plants.
• Don't keep water running when cleaning the counter/stove/fridge etc.
• Install a low-flow aerator on your faucet. Using faucet aerators can save up to 40% of the water used for hand washing. If an aerator is already installed on your faucet, it will have its rated flow imprinted on the side. This should read 2.75 gpm (gallons per minute) or lower. If the flow is more than 2.75 gpm, replace it with a low-flow aerator. If no aerator is installed, check to see if there are threads just inside the tip of the faucet. Most modern faucets are threaded to accept aerators.
• Use only the amount of water you need to cook or make tea/coffee.
• Keep a jug of drinking water in the fridge instead of running the tap for cold water.
• Do not defrost frozen food under running water. Plan ahead and defrost in the refrigerator or in a single pot of water instead.
• Compost kitchen garbage waste instead of using a garbarator. Garbarators use hundreds of litres of water each week, greatly increasing the load for water treatment facilities. If you do use a garbage disposal, use only cold water when running it. This saves hot water and solidifies grease, which is then ground up and washed down the drain. Vermicomposting (worm composting) can be ideal for apartment dwellers or small offices that want to derive some of the benefits of composting and reduce solid waste. It is frequently used in schools to teach children conservation and recycling.

FAQ

Is it safe to drink tap water in British Columbia?
Yes. The B.C. government is committed to ensuring safe, reliable and accessible drinking water for all British Columbians. Through the Provincial Drinking Water Protection Act, representative samples are collected regularly to monitor various sources and system water quality. Find more information here.