Water Conservation Framework
Participant Profile
Municipal Entity: City of Toronto
Overview of water conservation plan:
- The City of Toronto's Water Efficiency Plan was approved by Toronto City Council in 2003 and is the first plan of its kind in Ontario, whereby water conservation measures are implemented to achieve in-system capacity to support the water demand requirements of projected population and employment growth within the City.
- Measures being implemented by the City of Toronto under the Water Efficiency Plan are:
- Watermain system leak and water loss reduction;
- Toilet replacement program;
- Clothes washer replacement program;
- Indoor water audits;
- Industrial/commercial/institutional capacity buy-back program;
- Computer controlled irrigation systems;
- Outdoor water audits;
- Watering restrictions; and
- Public education and community outreach.
Link to City's water conservation website
Water conservation achievements to date:
- To date, 185,000 toilets have been replaced and 20,000 clothes washers have been replaced.
- Water consumption reductions achieved to date are 44 million litres per day (including ICI capacity buy-back reductions of 2.5 million litres per day).
- Additional benefits of implementing the Water Efficiency Plan include reductions in operating costs through reduced energy and chemical usage associated with the treatment and supply of potable water and treatment of wastewater; reducing carbon dioxide emissions; and providing customers with opportunities to reduce water demand and thereby reducing their water bills.
- During the implementation period to the year 2011, it has been estimated that the Water Efficiency Plan will result in an avoidance of more than 90,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions. When fully implemented, about 14,000 tonnes per year of CO2 emissions will be avoided.
Contact person:
Pamela Georgopoulos
Manager Service Programs, Toronto Water
416-392-1459
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