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Prevent water waste

Find and fix water leaks in your home

With some simple changes to how we think and act, we can all reduce our water usage and our water bills.

Download the Leak Detection Guide

Water is one of our most precious resources. Preventing water waste helps to conserve this vital resource while saving you money. In homes, the main sources of water waste are from leaks, indoor overuse, and outdoor over-watering of lawns and gardens. You may not realize you have a leak until you receive your water bill. Many leaks may go unnoticed, but they can be costly.

Home water efficiency

Check for water leaks

Conserving water will go along way to saving you money, and protecting the environment.

The kitchen

The kitchen is where 15% of all water is used at home. This water is generally used for drinking, cooking and cleaning.

Tips to reduce water consumption in the kitchen

Keep a jug of drinking water in the fridge instead of letting the tap run cold for a drink
Install low flow aerators on kitchen taps
Do not rinse dishes before putting in the dishwasher; most dishwashers do a thorough job of cleaning them
Select the lowest possible cycle each time the dishwasher is used and wait until a full load is ready
If washing dishes by hand, do not let the water run continuously; use one sink for washing and the other sink for rinsing
Check for and fix any leaking faucets
Clean fruits and vegetables in a partially filled sink or bowl, then rinse them with quick blasts of water

The bathroom

The bathroom is the largest water consuming area in the home; 65% of water used is in the bathroom.

The toilet represents nearly 30% of all water used in the bathroom
The shower, bath and tap combined consume about 35% of water used in the bathroom

Tips to reduce water consumption in the bathroom

Install a dual flush (6L or 3L), HET High Efficiency Toilet (4.8 L) or 3L toilet for efficiency and savings
Do not use the toilet to dispose of garbage
Turn off the water while showering, brushing teeth, washing hands or shaving
Take a five to eight minute shower instead of a 20 minute shower

Savings from water conservation at home

Regular toilets waste as much as 20 L (4.4 gallons) per flush.
- Low flow toilets can efficiently flush a bowl using only 6 litres (1.3 gallons) of water
- Undetected leaks can waste several hundred litres of water per year and can easily be stopped by replacing or repairing fixtures.
- Depending on your toilets’ volume, you may want to install a toilet displacement bag or toilet dam into the toilet tank; the amount of water that the bag holds is the amount of water that is saved during each flush.
Switch to a low flow aerator on the bathroom sink faucet that uses less water, such as one with a 1 - 1.5 gpm (gallons per minute) flow.
Switch to a low flow showerhead.
- Average showerheads use 9.5 L of water per minute (2.5 gallons), while a water efficient showerhead uses only 6.4 L of water per minute (1.7 gallons) without decreasing water pressure or performance.

Estimated savings from switching one regular toilet to a low flow toilet:

Average toilet	Efficient toilet	Litre Savings / Year	Dollar Savings / Year
13 to 20L/flush	6L/flush	13,405L	$56.31

The laundry room

Washing machines Represent over 20% of all water used inside the home. High Efficiency (HE) washers use between 30% to 40% less water and as much as 70% less energy than standard (non-HE) top loading machines

Tips to reduce water use in the laundry room

If possible, always wash with a full load of laundry
Use the shortest washing cycle available to save water
Use an High Efficiency (HE) washer

High Efficiency (HE) Washers

Considered to be gentler on clothes
They are more efficient in their spinning mechanisms
Laundry takes less time to dry
Cost to buy a HE washer is usually higher than top loading washers, but you save more money with the decreased use of water, detergent and energy

Estimated savings from switching to an HE washing machine:

Average Washer	Efficient Washer	Litre Savings / Year	Dollar Savings / Year
175.5L/Load	121.5L/Load	2,429.5L	$10.21

Water heaters

Insulate hot water pipes so when taps are turned on, less water is wasted waiting for the water to heat up
Install a tankless water heater for hot water on demand
Insulate the few feet of piping that extends from the heater to keep the hot water warmer for longer
Contact your manufacturer or rental company or refer to the hot water tank manual for maintenance instructions on hot water tank flushing
Replace your hot water heater
- Install heat traps in your water heater to keep hot water from rising out of the heater and prevent cold water from getting in.
- Heat traps stabilize water temperatures and reduces the amount of water waste while you wait for the water to become the right temperature.

Sprinkler systems

Have your sprinkler system checked for leaks and optimized to ensure you're not overwatering your lawn
Install a rain sensor to prevent unnecessary watering during and after a rainfall
Run your system manually by only turning it on and off when your lawn needs it

Pools and hot tubs

Use a cover on your pool or hot tub to reduce the amount of water lost due to evaporation
This means that you will spend less time and water topping up your pool or hot tub
On average, swimming pools lose about a quarter of an inch of water each day
Variations in wind, humidity and sunlight can impact water loss
A properly maintained spa or pool cover can reduce evaporation and water wastage by as much as 95%
Water Conservation Recommendations from the Pool & Hot Tub Council of Canada

Below are some tips for discovering water leaks. If you find that you are experiencing a significant leak, please see the Leak Adjustment Program to determine eligibility for financial compensation.

Using your water meter to discover water leaks

To discover water leaks in your home, you need to follow these steps:

Locate the low flow indicator or sweep hand on the water meter face.
Turn a tap on and run the water slowly. Look at the low flow indicator and observe it rotating. Turn the tap off.
Check around the house to ensure that you are not using water. Turn off all taps, do not use any water and check to ensure outside hoses are turned off.
Go back to the water meter and observe the low flow indicator; it should not be rotating.
If the low flow indicator is not rotating, you do not have a leak.
If the low flow indicator is rotating, you may have a leak.

You may wish to contact a qualified tradesperson to help you find and repair any leaks. You can also download the Leak Detection Guide(PDF, 7.15 MB) for more water leak tips.

Water meter with component descriptions - Low flow Indicator, Odometer, Sweep Hand

High volume water leaks often come from toilets. They are hard to detect and are usually caused by worn or misaligned parts.

Follow these steps to check your toilet for leaks:

Put a small amount of food colouring in the toilet tank.
Wait 10 minutes, then check to see if water in the toilet bowl is coloured. If it is, the toilet flapper could be leaking. This is relatively simple and inexpensive to replace.
While the toilet top is removed, look to see if the water level is close to the overflow pipe. The overflow pipe is a plastic pipe with an open end just below the top of the tank.
If the water level is close, or overflowing into the pipe, this could be where the water is leaking.
If the tank water level is too high, you need to adjust the ball valve which controls the amount of water in your toilet tank.

A leaking faucet can waste from 280 to 750 L of water in a week.

To avoid leaking faucets and pipes, you should:

check all faucets and pipes periodically
watch for drips
replace faulty parts

Electronic leak sensors placed under major household appliances, such as dishwashers and washing machines, alert you as soon as water starts to collect underneath the appliance.

You can fix most leaks by installing new WaterSense labelled fixtures and other high-efficiency appliances.

TURN OFF YOUR WATER WHILE YOU ARE AWAY ON VACATION

Avoid a high water bill from an unexpected leak by turning off your water before you go away:

Shut off the inside water supply if your house is going to be unoccupied for any length of time, even if it is only for a weekend, except where water is used for heating.
Close the inside building control shut-off valve and open faucets to relieve pressure in the lines. If there is no shut-off valve, close the water supply to toilets, sinks, tubs and washing machines that often have individual shut-off valves.
If your property will be vacant for 90 days or more, call 905-546-2489 within 24 hours of leaving to arrange for the City to turn your water off at the street. Please note that there is an applicable fee for this service.
To arrange for account payments while you are away, call Alectra Utilities Customer Service at 1-833-253-2872.

THE CITY’S LEAK PROTECTION PROGRAM

The City of Hamilton's Residential Leak Protection Program administered by ServLine, provides protection to residents from a high-water bill caused by a qualifying leak.

Please refer to City of Hamilton’s Leak Protection Program guidelines and qualifications(PDF, 41.28 KB) before completing the Water Leak Adjustment Form. This form must be completed no later than 60 calendar days from the billing date.

Any residential customer may request additional information concerning the City of Hamilton’s Leak Protection Program administered by ServLine by calling 1-888-977-7471

Date modified

February 07, 2023