Celebrate World Water Day with Tips from a Water Expert (and AC Alum)

Posted on Monday, March 22nd, 2021

World Water DayMonday, March 22 marks World Water Day. A day acknowledging what water means to people, its true value and how we can better protect this vital resource.

AC graduate Breanna Foster and colleague Christine Gan are dedicated to water conservation. Gan, an engineering specialist at Bishop Water explains that there are simple things people can do every day to conserve water. That in turn will reduce the load on local water treatment plants, which can have a lasting impact on the community.

Wastewater plants clean the water used by a community. Any water from a house, business or institution that is flushed down the toilet or down a drain, or water from a sewer into a gutter will end up in a wastewater treatment plant.

“Most plants were designed 50-75 years ago and weren’t designed for 50 years in the future,” said Gan. “A lot of today’s plants are overloaded and will not be able to handle capacity. We are seeing municipalities develop initiatives that actually make a big difference and extend the life of a plant.”

Gan and Foster suggest the following tips to help conserve water and reduce the load on wastewater treatment plants including;

The following items should not be flushed or disposed down a drain:

  • Wipes
  • Contact lenses
  • Hair
  • Medicine
  • Use a bidet where possible, reduce use of toilet paper.
  • Do not run the water when brushing your teeth.

“Purifying your water is a lot of time and energy,” said Gan. Foster agrees, adding “Some people don’t think of water as a non-renewable resource and it is very expensive to retreat water.”

Foster explains that most waterways are not as clean as they used to be. “Muskrat River (in Renfrew County) has algae blooms which means there is too much phosphorus in the water,” she said. “Wash water from farms may include extra fertilizer that ends up in waterways and dogs can end up dying because they are drinking river water.”

Both Foster and Gan agree it is important to mark the day. “We should use the day as an awareness day like Earth Day to help with spreading awareness.” Gan agrees this awareness and education are important “especially to a younger generation.”

The City of Ottawa lists the following tips to conserve water:

  • Reduce - be aware of your water use, and consider ways to use less.
  • Repair - locate and repair leaks to save water, money, and to prevent potentially costly property damage.
  • Retrofit - install water saving devices on existing fixtures and select water efficient devices when replacing older, water-guzzling fixtures and appliances.

Learn more on the City of Ottawa’s water conservation page.


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