High water usage

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Average water use in Edmonton

The average Edmonton household uses 14.1 m³ or 14,100 litres of water each month. Household water usage can vary depending on household size, appliance/water fixture efficiency, and outdoor water use. A water leak can also waste significant amounts of water.

Note: 14.1 m³/month is based on a three-year average of household water use in Edmonton from 2022-2024.

​Ways your water use can rise

Here are some things to check:

Changes in your water use

Seasonal use

Generally, water consumption is higher during the summer due watering lawns, pools, gardening and kids being home for school holidays.

Tip: In the fall, ensure your outside hose bibs are turned off. It's also a great time to check your irrigation system for leaks and get it winterized before the temperature drops.

Working from home

Being home during the day can increase water usage as you are using more water than if you were working in the office. 

Houseguests, new baby, or roommates

Hosting guests or adding a roommate or welcoming a new baby can mean more showering, toilet flushing, handwashing, cooking, dishwashing and laundry. All of these activities add to the water use of your home. 

New appliances

If you've added a water-intensive appliance or equipment to your home, you may notice an increase on your water bill. For example, water softeners use water to regularly flush out buildup in their filters, and humidifiers and air conditioners use more water at certain times of the year. To minimize these impacts, choose high-efficiency appliances.

Learn ways to conserve water inside and outside your home.

Water leaks

Leaky toilets, faucets, hose bibs, irrigation systems and home appliances left unfixed can waste a lot of water. We recommend routinely checking your home for leaks, maintaining adequate heat, and closing your stop and waste valve when away from the premises (e.g. vacation) for extended periods of time.

Warning signs

Keep an ear and an eye open for stains, mold growth, puddles, and unexplained water sounds.

Running toilet

Toilets are a common source of water leaks. Sometimes, you'll hear running water or a trickle, but often, a toilet leak can be silent and easily overlooked.

Leaky pipes

If you have a leaky water pipe, you may notice flooding or see water coming into your home.  Outside, you may notice pooling or wet spots on your lawn or driveway. Pipes inside of the home can burst, if the space is not heated adequately. 

Learn what to do if you suspect a water leak on your property.

Check for leaks

If you think you have a leak (e.g. dripping water or calcium staining on your floor, plumbing or appliances), it’s important to find it fast as leaks not only waste water but left unfixed can add to your water bill and may cause damage to your property.

Use your meter to check for leaks

Take a look at your water meter. Water meters are found indoors, usually in your basement or crawl space near your main water shut off valve. Water meters are never located outdoors, as they would freeze and burst in the winter.

Turn off all taps and applications that use water (toilet, shower, dishwasher, washing machine, automatic pool filler, irrigation system, etc.) and look at your water meter to verify that no water is passing through it. If everything is turned off and the dial or flow indicator (a small rotating wheel or triangle) is moving, there is likely a leak somewhere on your property (inside or outside). 

EPCOR cannot confirm what the water has been used for, or where it has been used in the house, only that the water has been used.

What you should do next

Check your toilet for a leak

You can test your toilet for leaks by adding food colouring into the water tank at the back of the toilet. Wait 10-15 minutes and check the toilet bowl. If the water is coloured, you have a leak.

Most leaks are caused by the floater or the flapper. 

Sinks

Look at and feel under the sink for water marks or wet spots. 

Dishwasher

A hose connection can come loose or the water inlet valve can stick in the open position, allowing water to continuously flow. Another place to check for a potential leaks is the door gasket or seal. 

Washing machine

Empty the washing machine, move it away from the wall and start the fill cycle. Look for drips around the water supply hose connection at the back of the machine while it fills. Shut off the water. Replace any old, heavily corroded or rusted hoses. If the hoses are in good shape, replace the internal washers only. If the washing machine still leaks, it may be coming from the inside the machine and it may be time to call a repairman.

Shut off valve testing

Shut off valves throughout the home and can be used to identify and isolate the location of a possible leak.

To start, make sure everything that uses water is turned off and shut off all of the valves located throughout the house (e.g. under the sinks, near the back of toilets, behind the washing machine, etc.). Then, turn one valve back on and go back to the basement to look at the meter to determine if the flow indicator is active.  If the flow indicator is active while only one valve in the home is open, and there is no intentional water use occurring in that location of the house, then you may have identified a leak in that area of the home. If the flow indicator is not active, then repeat this exercise at each valve to isolate the leak.

How to fix your leaky toilet

Toilets are a common source of water leaks. Sometimes, you'll hear running water or a trickle, but often, a toilet leak can be silent and easily overlooked.

Toilet floater set too high

If the floater is set too high, water will run into the overflow tube and into the toilet bowl. You can fix this by adjusting the float mechanism.

Toilet flapper not working properly

The flapper should seal tightly against the pipe fitting at the bottom of the tank. If the flapper is too high, check the chain to ensure there is enough slack.

If the flapper looks old or if there is any colour coming off of the outside of the flapper valve, it should be replaced.

First shut off the water supply to the toilet. It is usually located on the water line running to the tank. Next, flush the water out of the tank. Remove the old flapper valve and take it to your local hardware store to ensure you purchase the right type of flapper valve for your toilet.

Water loss from an open toilet flapper

Toilet flapper valves stuck in the open position is a common reason for high water consumption. We simulated the problem to show you just how much water loss an open flapper can cause. Take a look:

How much a leaky toilet can cost

* Volume can vary based on type of toilet and leak.
** Estimate based on applicable 2024 residential water, wastewater treatment and sanitary consumption rates for Edmonton.
*** This is an actual example of a toilet running fully open for one month at a residential site in Edmonton. 

Ways to save water

Here are a few ways that you can save water in your home:

• Turn off the faucet when you are brushing your teeth, shaving and washing your hands
• Consider running your washing machine less frequently. Take shorter showers and change your showerhead to a low-flow fixture
• Use your dishwasher when it’s full
• Find and fix leaks regularly
• Recognize that a water softener or reverse osmosis system uses use up to 10 times more water.
• Turn off your stop and waste valve next to the meter when going out of town for extended periods of time.
• Track your usage water patterns and adjust activities that use water. The list below is an example of how you could track your water usage.