Water Conservation

The following are a selection of water efficient building guidelines for use during the design stage of a construction project:

• Prepare a water saving action plan for your project that includes actions during construction, appliances and plumbing to be installed, reuse potential, landscaping and rainwater utilisation.

• Ensure that water conservation and the protection of water quality is included in all tender and contractual documentation.

• Consider the feasibility of greywater use - water from sinks, showers or clothes washers (greywater) can be recycled to flush toilets or irrigate plants. Be aware that it is important to properly maintain these systems, as poor maintenance can lead to poor quality water which can be hazardous to human health and the environment.

• Design the roof elements to collect rainwater for storage and re-use in tanks, ponds, or underground tanks.

• Harvest rainwater from car parks by avoiding the use of curbing and directing runoff into recharge zones.

• Design ground surfaces and paved areas to slope away from buildings and structures in such a way that water runoff can either be collected or return to landscaped areas.

• Consider using permeable paving, consisting of porous above-ground materials (e.g., open pavers, engineered products), a base layer designed to drain water away from the building, and (often) a 6-inch-deep (150 millimeters) subbase.

The following are a selection of water efficient building guidelines for use during the construction stage of a project:

• Shade concrete to prevent evaporation without relying on excess cooling water.

• Wash heavy equipment with closed-loop water recycling systems, or use grey water to clean work surfaces, tools and equipment.

• Check hoses for leaks and replace leaky nozzles when necessary, even small leaks over a long period of time can waste a large amount of water.

• Invest in low-volume pressure washers and/or water-efficient hose nozzles that maintain effectiveness but use less water.

• Sweep with a broom instead of hose to clean site surfaces, pathways and gutters.

• Wash tools in buckets instead of running water, this can save a large amount of water over the duration of a construction project.

The following are a selection of water efficient building guidelines for use  while finishing the interior and plumbing (fixtures, appliances, etc.) of a project:

• Stay up to-date with the latest opportunities for water conservation design and appliances.

• Minimize the distance between hot water tanks and taps (this will save water and the cost of unnecessary piping and energy costs).

• Choose plumbing fixtures that have built-in flow restricting devices.

• Install fixtures and appliances that comply with highest available water efficiency rating (e.g. ultra low flow toilets, water efficient taps) or if possible, install composting toilets or waterless toilets and urinals.

• Consider alternatives to evaporative cooling towers for building air conditioning, such as heat pump technology.

• Use water sub-meters for areas where significant water use will take place, which can help itemize water use and better detect any leaks.

The following are a selection of water efficient building guidelines for use  while finishing the landscaping of a project and preparing irrigation:

• Create separate zones for each type of bedding area based on watering needs, and use of pressure regulation for every zone (valve or sprinkler) used to irrigate the landscaping.

• Use of check valves on sloped irrigation zones where needed to prevent low head drainage.

• Flow sensing with a master valve and irrigation controller that responds to a high-flow occurrence.

• Use of smart irrigation control technology (weather based, soil moisture sensors, rain sensors, etc.) to prevent overwatering and water waste.

• Design ground surfaces and paved areas to slope away from buildings and structures, this will enable water to run onto surrounding garden areas and recharge zones and maximize infiltration of water through use of permeable landscaping to recharge groundwater.

• Consider planting Indigenous (local) plants throughout landscaped areas as they typically have low water requirements and are suited to local climatic conditions.

The Water Efficient Building Guidelines were compiled from various sources both in Canada and the United States. The comprehensive list is below, including links to websites (if applicable):

• Water Efficiency Building Guidelines - Green Building Canada https://greenbuildingcanada.ca/

• LEED Measures - Canada Green Building Council https://www.cagbc.org/our-work/certification/leed/

• Smart Approved WaterMark - The Water Conservancy https://www.smartwatermark.org/

• WaterSense - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency https://www.epa.gov/watersense

• Water Calculator - Home Water Works https://home-water-works.org/calculator

• Water Conservation in Ontario - Provincial Government https://www.ontario.ca/page/ontarios-water-conservation

• Water Efficiency Best Management Practices - Ontario Water and Wastewater Association https://owwa.ca/committees/water-energy-efficiency.html