The City of Hamilton has provided its residents with a Wise Water Use Public Education and Outreach Program.
Water is vital to every living thing,
yet water quality and availability is taken for granted.
Hamilton has been working towards educating the public on water conservation and taking steps to reduce water consumption over past years. Public Works strives to demonstrate environmental leadership at all levels. By reducing water production, this saves energy and reduces greenhouse gas emissions.
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Wise Water Use Outdoors!
Water consumption can go up by as much as 50% during the summer months. Watering your lawn efficiently will help to promote healthy lawns.
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A large contributor to water reduction in Hamilton over recent years was the City’s Water Metering Program. Studies have shown that when water meters are initially installed in municipalities as much as a 20% reduction in water use can be realized as water consumers must now pay for what they use. Within 2 to 3 years, water consumers tend to return to some old water use habits and water consumption stabilizes with an approximate 10% reduction.
The Wise Water Use Programis a partnership between the City of Hamilton and Green Venture. This program was designed to educate Hamilton water users on the importance of our local water resources and various methods of using water wisely. In 2003, the Wise Water Use Program was expanded to the EcoHouse Wise Water Use program which incorporated hands-on demonstrations and tours of EcoHouse. Through public presentations, staffed displays, attendance at schools, displays at festivals and events, workshops, and educational tours of EcoHouse, Green Venture estimates they have been exposed to over 150,000 people and directly engaged and educated approximately 50,000 water consumers on wise water use.
The Catch the Rain Rainbarrel Pilot Project, a partnership with Green Venture is currently in it's survey stage. The City of Hamilton is studying and measuring the residents’ water conservation and the benefits of continuing an ongoing Rainbarrel Rebate Program for future years.
More is required; we are continuing to expand our efforts to conserve water and educate the public. In 2008, a Water Efficiency Master Plan will be initiated to develop a water conservation program to effectively deal with wise water use in Hamilton.
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