Water is important!

We have been talking about why water is important and how we can conserve water.  Here are some ti[s for saving water at home from the City of Toronto.

Winter Water Tips

Here are a few tips the City of Toronto is providing to help you get ready for the wintry weather.

• Turn off the outdoor water supply and drain taps before the first freeze - because burst water pipes waste water and can cause expensive damage.
• Insulate pipes that are most susceptible to freezing, especially near outer walls and in crawl spaces and the attic.
• During especially cold weather, consider leaving a tap open enough for a trickle of water so there is some movement of water in pipes that might be vulnerable to freezing.
• Clear debris from eavestroughs and downspouts.
• Seal window wells and fix any cracks in basement walls, because cracks can lead to leaks.
• Keep rain and snow away from the building's foundation.
• Clear roadside leaves and other debris off sewer grates near your home to ensure snow melting during winter thaws can drain freely into the sewer.
• Clear snow from around fire hydrants to keep them visible and accessible to Fire Services and Toronto Water personnel.
• Avoid piling snow around a fire hydrant or throwing it onto the road when shovelling the driveway and sidewalks.
• Disconnect your downspouts from the sewer system.

Disconnecting downspouts helps reduce the risk of basement flooding and the release of polluted rainwater into local waterways. A bylaw (Municipal Code, Chapter 681, Sewers) makes it mandatory for property owners to disconnect their downspouts from Toronto's sewer system, however, where disconnection is not technically feasible or would create a hazard, you can apply to the City of Toronto for an exemption. More information about downspout disconnection.