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Region's plan to save water
March 6, 2005
- Brampton Guardian
A Region of Peel plan to help protect the environment by reducing the amount of water Brampton residents use will begin rolling out this year.
In 10 years, Peel's Public Works department hopes to cut water use by 10 per cent a day and slice wastewater flow by seven per cent, says Mark Schiller, director of water and wastewater treatment.
However, the $33 million long-term water efficiency plan's success relies heavily on community participation inside and outside of the home.
Currently, across all three municipalities, the average daily demand for water is 500 ML/d (million litres per day). By 2015, Schiller said water consumption is expected to reach 613 ML/d as the population continues to grow.
Topping Peel Region's Water Smart list of the biggest waste offenders are household staples including toilets and washing machines.
Starting this fall, residents who replace their standard 13L toilets with a more efficient 6L toilet will receive a $60 rebate from the region, said Elvis Oliveira, manager of water and wastewater treatment.
"The challenge is, the public sector thinks the smaller toilet (tanks) don't perform as well as the 13L toilets."
To put consumers minds at ease, Peel Region participated in a low flow toilet study and as a result has compiled a list of 80 toilet models that meet customer satisfaction, achieve water savings, are affordable, and more importantly qualify for a rebate.
A similar savings program will begin next year for residents who purchase a pre-approved water and energy saving washing machine.
Other measures the water efficiency plan includes:
* system leak detection audit-- this will address all non-revenue water consumption including real water loss, authorized unbilled consumption (water loss through watermain flushing, fire protection, parkland watering), stolen water and meter inaccuracies;
* indoor water audits-- this will target industrial, commercial and institutional sectors;
* outdoor water audits-- will look at single families, multi-residential and industrial, commercial, and institutional sectors.
Public Works will also research the idea of implementing "block rates" for water consumption. Under this billing plan, the amount of water used between October and April each year (when landscape irrigation is low) would be used to set residents winter water use average. Customers would pay a base rate for water usage year round but could be faced with higher bills if their summer monthly usage exceeds their winter average.
Regional staff said this rate system will help encourage residents to reduce the amount of water they use during the summer months, especially for lawn watering.
"It's cheaper to save water than trying to expand supply," said Oliveira, adding a significant amount of energy is used to treat drinking water.
Public Works is stressing the water efficiency plan does not mean the Region of Peel is running out of water.
Oliveira said it's just contributing to the "preservation, protection and enhancement of Peel's natural environment and resources."
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