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In Canada, we tend to take limitless access to fresh drinking water for granted. But in many parts of the world, fresh water is scarce. Even in our own country, many people are starting to feel the effects of water shortages and unreliable water quality.
Water truly is our most valuable natural resource. No one can live without it. The scarcity of fresh, clean water is both a major health concern and an economic concern.
That’s why we’ve launched the RBC Blue Water Project™, a 10-year initiative that will provide $50 million in grants to support projects dedicated to water conservation, watershed protection, access to clean drinking water and other fresh water-related issues in Canada and around the world.
The RBC Blue Water Project is part of the RBC Environmental Blueprint™, our vision for achieving environmental sustainability.
We understand that safeguarding the supply of clean water, like achieving environmental sustainability, is everyone’s responsibility. There’s much that you can do to help, simply by being more aware of how you use this precious resource in your own home and taking a few simple steps to reduce your water consumption and protect the quality of our water supply.
In the Kitchen
- Use the dishwasher: If it’s a recent model, it can actually use less water than doing dishes by hand.
- Change from your regular cleaning products to environmentally friendly products.
- Keep filtered water in the fridge rather than letting the tap run to get cold drinking water.
In the Bathroom
- Replace your regular toilet with a low-volume or dual-flush model. Check your municipality’s website for rebate programs.
- Switch to a water-efficient shower-head.
- Run hand-basin taps in a small stream rather than at full force.
In the Basement and Laundry Room
- If your washing machine is as old as the hills, replace it with a more efficient, front-loading model.
- Run your washing machine only when you have a full load.
- Take unwanted chemicals and solvents to a hazardous waste materials disposal centre instead of pouring them down the drain.
In the Garden
- Water the lawn and garden early in the morning or in the evenings, so the water doesn’t evaporate.
- Avoid using chemicals and pesticides on your lawn and garden. They wash off when it rains, and may wind up in the water supply.
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