The Earth is comprised of 97% saltwater, which means that only a meager 3% is freshwater. From that 3%, less than 0.3% is easily accessible by humans, such as freshwater in lakes, rivers, and in shallow groundwater. The rest is trapped in glaciers, ice caps, and deep underground. That is why freshwater is so precious and in high demand. The effects of climate change, like prolonged droughts and flooding, have also created additional unpredictability of freshwater availability. Moreover, urbanization, industrial growth, and expanded farming operations have further increased scarcity.
How much water does a Canadian consume per day on average?
In Canada, we are incredibly lucky because we possess 20% of the World’s freshwater reserves. I suppose then, it isn’t surprising that Canadians are second in the World (after the United States) per capita for daily water consumption. Statistics Canada reveals that, on average, every Canadian consumes approximately 223 litres every single day! I will note, that when doing research for this article, I came across a wide range of daily consumption figures that were much higher than this number. Furthermore, I found out that Canadians consume twice as much water as Europeans and ten times more than individuals living in Sub-Saharan Africa. The World Health Organization states that technically 19 litres per individual per day of freshwater meets basic drinking, cooking and handwashing needs. However, this statistic does not factor in bathing and/or laundry.
To put this into perspective of how lucky we are to have freshwater in our nation, Plan Canada reports that 844 million people do not have access to safe drinking water globally. Also, it is no secret that freshwater is NOT equally distributed even in our own country. According to Indigenous Services Canada, as of March 2025, there are thirty-five indigenous communities that are under boil-water advisories some of which have been placed under this advisory for more than twenty-five years! This is certainly a human rights issue that needs rectifying as soon as possible, as well as on a global scale.
Where does our drinking water come from?
Most of Canada’s drinking water comes from rivers and lakes (88%). However, freshwater is not solely used for drinking and for households needs. For instance, Canadians require freshwater in numerous sectors of society, including: thermal power generation, manufacturing, mining, oil/gas, agriculture, and commercial/institutional. You can only imagine the immense amount of freshwater that is consumed by society as a whole! Believe it of not, the amount of household water consumption still ranks number three following thermal power generation and manufacturing. That means that we are using an incredible amount of water in our homes.
Fortunately, water can be a renewable resource. For example, waste water from homes, factories, shops, hospitals, and schools, and storm water can be collected, treated, and then released back into lakes, rivers and oceans. Apparently, Canada collects approximately the same volume of waste water/storm water that would flow over Niagara Falls continuously for three weeks on an annual basis. The water is collected in pipes and in sewers and goes to waste treatment plants to be reprocessed. Unfortunately, 3.7% of waste water and storm water is left untreated and is released back into the natural environment causing water contamination.
How are everyday Canadians starting to be more water conscious?
According to Statistics Canada, 49% of Canadians have switched to low volume toilets in their homes, and 46% have changed to low flow showerheads (2021). Furthermore, 40% of households with municipally supplied water have a water meter (2021). Some Canadians have switched to high-efficiency appliances, such as HE washing machines, dishwashers, and fridges. This is certainly a step in the right direction for at home water conservation.
As water bills continue to rise, more Canadians are considering other ways to reduce their water consumption at home, which will be outlined below. Changing water habits not only helps to decrease water bills, but it also contributes to the protection and conservation of one of our most precious resources.
15 Helpful Tips for Conserving Water at Home
- Fix any leaks that can occur inside and outside of your home. Check for running toilets, dripping faucets/showerheads, and leaking outdoor taps/hoses. If you are unsure if there’s a leak and you have a water meter, you can run an overnight leak test to find out.
- Service and repair appliances such as water softeners, furnace humidifiers and hot water tanks. These appliances can waste water when not working properly.
- If possible, wash your dishes in a dishwasher rather than by handwashing. Surprisingly, dishwashers use less water! However, make sure there’s a full load before turning it on. If you must handwash, ensure that you use a stopper for the sink instead of allowing the water to go down the drain. Another helpful tip is to scrape food scraps into a food composter rather than rinsing the dish under running water. Also, allow pots and pans to soak overnight instead of battling to clean them directly after a meal.
- Thaw frozen food in advance so that you don’t need to run water on it to quicken up the thawing process.
- Keep a jug of water in your fridge to avoid running your tap water to cold each time you want a drink.
- Wash fruits and vegetables in a bowl and rinse them while catching the water with the bowl. You can then use the water to give indoor plants a drink.
- Don’t wash your clothes so frequently and ensure that you have a full load of laundry before washing. Set your washing machine to a faster wash cycle and use eco-friendly laundry detergents that decrease water pollution and consumption.
- Take shorter showers (ideally less than 5 minutes in length) that are cooler in temperature. A single shower can take more than 100 litres of water! Ideally, change your showerhead to a ‘water-saving’ one.
- If bathing, only fill the bathtub halfway or less.
- Turn off faucet when brushing your teeth, shaving, and when lathering your hands with soap. Only turn it on when water is truly needed.
- Upgrade to water-efficient appliances (e.g. dishwasher, washing machine, and fridge). Look for Energy Star certified products.
- Collect water in a rain barrel to water your outdoor plants and for outdoor cleaning.
- Sweep outdoor spaces rather than using your hose to wash everything down.
- Use mulch in your gardens to help retain moisture and to minimize water evaporation.
- Water outdoor plants either early in the morning or in the evening. If you do it mid-day, the water is more likely to evaporate due to higher atmospheric temperatures.
Sources
Buckley, Charlie. March 16, 2025. Justin Trudeau pledged to end boil water advisories in First Nations communities. Here’s how many are left. CTV News. Boil water advisories: 35 remain, years after Trudeau pledge
Buitenbos, Desiree. World Water Day: 10 facts you didn’t know about water. Plan International. 10 facts you didnt know about water
Earth’s Freshwater. National Geographic. Earth’s Freshwater
Make every drop count: Water conservation tips. David Suzuki Foundation. Make every drop count: Water conservation tips – David Suzuki Foundation
Saving water in your home. Calgary. Saving water in your home
Water use in Canada. Government of Canada. September 25, 2025. Water
use in Canada – Canada.ca
World Water Day eh. Statistics Canada. March 13, 2024. World Water
Day eh – Statistics Canada
