Caution | Mandatory Outdoor Water Restrictions

Due to continued dry conditions, mandatory Stage 1 Outdoor Water Restrictions are in place until further notice.

Visit Calgary.ca/restrictions for more information.

In Calgary, the average person uses about seven cubic metres (m3) or 7,000 litres of water per month. This includes water used outdoors for irrigation.

A home's indoor water consumption will usually remain about the same throughout the year unless you have house guests or you go on vacation.

The chart below shows typical water use for common household fixtures and appliances. Actual water use can vary based on your water-use habits and efficiency of your fixtures.

Check your monthly water utility bill

Your water utility bill shows you how much water your household uses each month. It also tracks your water consumption from month to month so you can monitor household trends and watch for leaks.

By taking simple water saving actions, you can watch your monthly use decline and watch the savings grow Visit How to Read Your Water Bill.


Typical home water use in Calgary

Typical Home Water Use in Calgary 

On an daily basis, the average residential home fixtures use the following volumes of water:

  • Low flow toilet flushing use 30L
  • Dishwasher (per load) uses 35L
  • Low flow showerheads (per 5 minutes) use 40L
  • Regular showerheads (per 5 minutes) use 60L
  • Typical bathtub (per use) uses 80L
  • Non-low flow toilet flushing uses 100L
  • Front load washing machine uses 65L
  • Top load washing machine uses 180L
  • Watering the lawn (summer only) uses up to 950L

How to save water in your home

Every time you take a shower, flush the toilet, or wash vegetables you have the opportunity to conserve water.

There are also lots of many ways to save money by using water wisely. Below are some quick and inexpensive ways to reduce water use in your home.

Homeowner Water Guide

Discover a library of tips and tools for creating a water-efficient home. Visit our Homeowner Water Guide.

Saving water in the bathroom

Did you know? More water is consumed in the bathroom than all of your other rooms combined. Here are some ways to reduce water use:

Saving water in the kitchen

  • Replace your old dishwasher with a low water use dishwasher. Newer models will save on your energy bill as well.
  • Use your dishwasher only when you have a full load or run it on a shorter cycle if you must run it when not completely full.
  • Scrape plates into the compost bin. Do not rinse the food off of dishes.
  • Place vegetables and fruit in a partially filled sink or pot, then rinse them.
  • Keep a jug of drinking water in your refrigerator instead of running the tap to get cold water.
  • Use your water meter to check for and repair any fixture leaks regularly.

Saving water in the utility room

  • Replace your old washer with a low water use washer. Consider buying a front-load washer. They use at least 50% less water than older top-load models.
  • Wash only full loads of laundry. Set the water-level appropriately if you must wash a small load of laundry.
  • Have your water softener serviced if water drains when it isn't recycling.
  • Service and repair your furnace humidifier if the drainage is leaking or if the water drains out of the line while the humidifier isn't running.
  • Service and repair your hot water tank if the drainage is leaking or if the water drains out of the line.
  • Use your water meter to check for and repair any fixture leaks regularly.