The City of Calgary’s latest Year End Water Efficiency Report suggests Calgarians are on target when it comes to reducing water usage. Per capita usage was down three per cent to 437 litres per day. This is less than the national average of 589 litres and even below the city’s own target of 479 litres, required to meet its long-term goal of reducing total per capita water consumption by 30 per cent over 30 years.

“What the numbers are showing, is that Calgarians are using overall less water, both in their homes and in the workplace,” says Nancy Walker of Water Services. “What we’re trying to do is accommodate Calgary’s growth with the same amount of water we used back in 2003. We’ve been successful in doing that thus far, but continuing to be efficient in our water use remains a top priority.”

The report attributes decreased water use to the implementation of universal water metering and water-wise technologies like low-flush toilets, plus city education programs designed to help both businesses and homeowners learn water conservation techniques.

The city’s water-conservation efforts are in response to concern that southern Alberta’s growing population and expanding industrial use will exhaust our limited water supplies. A 2006 study by the Geological Survey of Canada predicted that Calgary could face a water shortage within 10 to 15 years at current growth and consumption rates.

Meghan Beveridge of the Bow Riverkeeper organization commends the city’s efforts to date and hopes they continue. “There’s always room for improvement,” notes Beveridge “In general, we’re very profligate users of water in Calgary and in Canada — we can all change how we use water and maybe not take it for granted so much.”

The city’s efforts continue with a toilet rebate program in partnership with Home Depot: on March 15, in-store customers can get an instant $50 rebate towards the purchase of approved water-wise toilets. (AM)