REAPS asks residents to be WaterWise
Prince George residents are some of the highest water consumers in B.C., using 754 litres of water per person per day in 2015.
To raise awareness around the issue, the Recycling and Environmental Action Planning Society (REAPS) of Prince George is hosting WaterWise Workshops for residents who would like to conserve water.
The average Prince George family of four uses between 300 and 800 litres of water per day while some families in the world use as little as 25 litres a day, illustrating a huge gap in usage around the globe.
The culprit seems to mostly be due to over-watering Prince George lawns.
Lawns only need about an inch of water a week, which takes about 30 minutes twice a week on designated sprinkling days.
Odd-numbered houses can water lawns before noon and after 5 p.m. on odd days, while even-numbered houses can water on even numbered days in the effort to conserve water.
“To see who much water that is, place a tuna can on the lawn,” Terri McClymont, REAPS executive director, said.
Once the can is full, consider the lawn watered. Over watering can compromise the healthy roots of the grass, defeating the purpose of watering the lawn to keep it looking good.
To water the garden, use water collected in a rain barrel in the backyard.
Other ways to conserve water used in the household is to make sure to turn off the water while brushing teeth or shaving. To wash dishes by hand fill the sink half full of water and do the same to rinse. Don’t leave the water running. Only run the dishwasher and washing machine for full loads.
Keep a jug of drinking water in the fridge to avoid running the water to get it cold. Limit showers to five minutes and install a low flow toilet or one that has a couple of different flushing options.
To find out more, attend one of the WaterWise workshops at REAPS compost garden, 1950 Gorse St., on July 28 and Aug. 11 from 1 to 2 p.m. and if there’s interest for a workshop to be held in the evening, REAPS staff will be happy to host.
Call REAPS at 250-561-7327 to confirm a spot or for more information.