Water Conservation
Access to clean, safe and reliable drinking water is essential to the health and well-being of our municipally serviced communities. With aging water infrastructure, a growing population, and increased commercial development, the Municipality of Inverness County’s water systems face growing challenges, especially in the summer, when water use increases significantly.
Water conservation advisories are issued by the municipality to help maintain safe and reliable water services during periods of increased strain on the system. These advisories are shared on the municipal website, the Municipality of Inverness County Facebook page, and with local media.
Common reasons for advisories include:
- Drought or extended dry weather reducing natural water supply
- Seasonal spikes in use, especially during summer and tourism season
- Equipment issues like pump or well maintenance, or main repairs
- Water loss due to leaks or pipe breaks, lowering storage tank levels
- Regulatory restrictions on water withdrawal rates from groundwater and surface water source
Your cooperation during advisories ensures that essential services like hospitals and fire departments have the water they need—and helps protect long-term water access for everyone.
What You Can Do to Help
Reduce Your Water Use
Simple actions at home can make a big difference:
- Collect rainwater in a covered barrel for watering plants or washing vehicles.
- Use water-efficient appliances (look for WaterSense or EnergyStar labels).
- Take shorter showers and turn off taps when brushing teeth or washing dishes.
- Only run dishwashers and washing machines with full loads.
- Avoid non-essential outdoor water use like watering lawns or hosing down driveways.
Conserve to Preserve
When you conserve water, you:
- Lower your utility bills
- Help maintain emergency water supplies for hospitals and fire departments
- Ensure sustainable, long-term access to clean water for everyone
By the Numbers:
- Community water use often rises by over 30% in summer compared to winter
- A leaking toilet can waste hundreds of litres/day due to worn flappers
- A dripping tap (1 drop/sec) wastes up to 25 litres/day
- Over two-thirds of municipal water is used for non-drinking purposes
- Water consumption rates often increase by 5 – 15% immediately following municipal water conservation advisories. Let’s work together to fix that.
Check out the municipality’s fact sheet and sharing with family and friends and posting in high traffic areas in your home and workplace.
