Pilot Project Targets Water Usage

The Town of St. Marys depends entirely on groundwater sources for its municipal water supply, so water quality and quantity are important issues for citizens of this community. The Upper Thames River Conservation Authority, the Town of St. Marys, and the St. Marys Green Committee partnered with the Stratford and Perth County Community Foundation to successfully reduce water consumption for 200 homes in St. Marys.

Since research shows that 65% of water usage in a home is due to toilet flushing and showering/bathing, the pilot project targeted these core water usage issues. Families enrolled in this water conservation project for a minimal $50 cost obtained a high efficiency toilet, shower head, and two faucet aerators as well as free installation. Homeowners who researched the retail cost of the fixtures and labour could not believe how “great a deal this was.”

Monitoring each pilot project home’s water consumption May through September 2009 found that water use was reduced by an average of 20%. This achieved the pilot project’s main purpose to motivate people to become involved in water conservation. The awareness raising connected with this pilot project and its clear demonstration of the effectiveness of simple water conservation measures will continue to expand and make a significant difference to the future sustainability of water consumption in St. Marys.

*Photo credit: St. Marys Journal Argus