England: London hailed for saving water

Lack of rain has prompted the city to urge residents to water stressed trees

Despite the recent hot spell, Londoners continue to show restraint with their use of water.  What a difference a decade and higher water rates can make.  With a population about 9% greater than in 2001, Londoners are using nearly 20% less water on a daily basis.

“The consumer is doing a great job of conserving water,” Matt Feldberg, manager of water demand for the city of London, said Tuesday.

He notes it was 20 years ago London adopted a water rate structure to encourage water conservation.

And even during the peak day this year, he noted, Londoners used 176 million litres, two million litres less than the average summer daily amount used in 2002.

Meanwhile, city hall is asking Londoners to help drought-stressed trees on private and public property by watering them, a move estimated to cost users less than 25 cents a week for each tree.

The city’s urban forester Ivan Listar issued a tree watering alert, warning low rainfall is leaving trees vulnerable to disease and insect attacks.

The average amount of water pumped into London reservoirs each day stands at 143 million litres. That amount anticipates daily demand with a safety cushion for firefighting purposes and is a good reflection of consumption, Feldberg said.

London’s population today stands at an estimated 366,151.

This year’s consumption (“pumpage”) is an average two million litres less a day than last summer.

By contrast, Feldberg said in 2002 when the city population stood at about 337,000, consumption (“pumpage”) averaged 178.2 million litres a day.

“People have become more conscious about their water use.”

Feldberg credits the reduction to installation of more water-efficient fixtures such as toilets in existing properties and new construction that incorporates water-efficient fixtures.

The odd-even system for non-essential water use such as for lawns has been in effect since June 1. Enshrined in the city water bylaw, residential properties with odd numbers can water lawns on odd-numbered dates, while those with even-numbered properties are permitted to do so on even-numbered dates.

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Tree Watering Tips

• Trees need 2.5 cm of water each week to thrive.
• Soil around trees should be soaked slowly, out to the limit of the outer branches.
• Early morning or evening watering will reduce loss of water to evaporation.

Symptoms of stress

• Browning and wilting of leaves.
• Can show within a week of absence of required amount of rainfall.

Source: London Free Press (By Chip Martin)

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