330L
The average amount of water an average Canadian uses per day.
490L
The average amount of water an average British Columbian uses per day.
There are many people around the world who live for a month using the amount of water we use in a day.
These were some stats shared with our class today in a water conservation presentation by Operation Save H2O. There were many other shocking statistics they shared with our class. However, they did more than just make jaws drop, they presented a lot of information and new vocabulary to the students. They taught the students about reasons for water conservation, and brainstormed with them ways to save water. I wasn’t surprised by how many ideas and actions the students already knew. Likewise, I can personally rattle off dozens of ideas of ways to conserve water but that doesn’t mean I put them into effect as efficiently as I should or would like to. We teach students from a young age important issues like water conservation but I think we need to take it one step further and critically evaluate our actions. We should be focusing on using this education to change our ways. I know one of my biggest challenges in not wasting water is in showering. Today I was given a five minute water timer, and I have already placed it in my shower, because I am not proud of being one of the 490L/day club.
I’m not asking what can we do to save water, but how can we actually DO it? How can we get ourselves, our students, our friends, our family, strangers, to actually put into PRACTICE what they know in theory?
Thanks again to the two engaging enthusiastic university co-op students, Tony and Jenny, from Operation Save H2O that presented to our class today!
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Love this post, Cassandra!! I completely agree that we need to think of what we will do to conserve rather than being able to list off what we can do. Just a little fact for the Sunshine Coast readers: in 2010, SCRD water customers used approximately 510L/day (per capita).
I think our water use truly reflects how society has turned to being “crisis responsive.” The Sunshine Coast went into an unprecedented drought in 2012 where Stage 3 and 4 water restrictions were enforced. During the restricted times, the community dropped their consumption by 33%. It shows how much water we can conserve when we want (or need) to!
Just thought I would throw in some fun facts about home for you!
Morganne, thank you for the information. What a powerful example, and from home as well! I am wondering how did the SCRD get the community to drop water consumption by so much? How did they raise awareness, and actually have people reduce their use? Did they also enforce watering restrictions more strictly, or is that just a routine summer job?
No problem—water conservation has been my job for the last two summers at the SCRD! The drop in consumption was due to increased water restrictions; in stage 3 only hand watering is permitted and stage 4 is an outright ban on all outdoor water use.
The SCRD has communication plans for each stage of water restriction. They include radio clips, newspaper ads, press releases, posters, social media and website use as well as strict enforcement. My summer job is to enforce water restriction, whatever the stage may be. I watched water consumption data from the treatment plant and when we see an increase in consumption, I increase patrols. As we enter stages beyond stage 1, we have staff report anything they see and our water crew will address infractions as well!
Luckily, the Sunshine Coast is a fairly close community and neighbours tend to take it into their own hands and ask/tell each other to abide by the restrictions. I also get a lot of phone calls for businesses or where neighbours are uncomfortable approaching a property!