Category Archives: Water Conservation

Helping more Guelphites save water and money at home Guelph, Ont., May 15, 2018—The City has updated its Blue Built Home water efficiency certification program to include retrofits in existing homes and multi-residential building units in Guelph. The original program, launched in 2011, focused on certification of new homes built to  include home fixtures and appliances designed and tested to save water and reduce utility bills. “By expanding Blue Built Home to include existing homes and multi-residential buildings more people in our community can participate in this water–saving program,” says Stephanie Cote, water conservation programs coordinator. To get a Blue Built Home certification, a homeowner must complete one of the following three actions: Install a greywater reuse system Install an all-season rainwater harvesting system Complete… Continue reading City launches updated Blue Built Home program

Guelph among select municipalities to oversee and apply greater rigour to development in vulnerable source water areas Guelph, Ont., August 1, 2017 –The City of Guelph has improved its review process for sanitary sewer infrastructure projects to better protect our community’s vulnerable source water. The revised process allows the City of Guelph to complete the review process for the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change’s (MOECC) environmental compliance approval (ECA) applications internally. The MOECC makes the decision to grant the ECAs based on the City’s review. “We’re pleased to take this work on at the local level to provide faster service to our development community,” said Peter Rider, the City’s Risk Management Official. “This also allows us to participate more directly in the oversight… Continue reading City to play greater role in protecting Guelph’s source water

Provincially funded project helps City save thousands of litres of water each year Guelph, Ont., June 23, 2017—The City has won a Water’s Next award for its innovative rainwater harvesting bus wash system. The award, won in the category of Projects and Technology—Stormwater, was presented last night at a gala in Toronto. The rainwater harvesting bus wash project was initiated in 2012 by the City’s Water Services and Guelph Transit departments, in partnership with Enviro-Stewards Inc., following an award of funding from the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change’s Showcasing Water Innovation program. Since 2014, the City has saved more than 1 million litres of drinking water in the process of washing it’s buses—enough to fill four Olympic-sized swimming pools. “We rely on a groundwater… Continue reading City’s rainwater harvesting bus wash wins national award

Guelph’s water efficiency strategy and youth programming recognized Guelph, Ont., May 10, 2017—The Ontario Water Works Association (OWWA) has recognized Guelph’s leadership in water conservation with a 2017 Award of Excellence in Water Efficiency for its updated water efficiency strategy in the Public Sector & Utilities Award category. The City was also recognized for its water-based youth education programming with the H2Awesome event that won in the category of Public Education & Awareness. Both awards were presented earlier today at the OWWA Awards Luncheon. “The City of Guelph is honoured to receive these awards from the Ontario Water Works Association’s Water Efficiency Committee,” said Heather Yates, Supervisor of Water Efficiency at the City. “This recognition means a great deal to us—it honours the hard work… Continue reading City wins two Ontario Water Works Association awards

City’s Water Services and Planning departments to test new tools Guelph, Ont., February 23, 2017 – The City of Guelph’s Civic Accelerator, which turns the City into a research, development and commercialization lab for civic technology, closed its first round with a Demo Day held yesterday at the University of Guelph. The event hosted representatives of the federal and provincial government, other municipal governments, angel investors, corporate leaders, Accelerator participants and partners, academics and students. Civic Accelerator Demo Day hosted on February 22, 2017 at the University of Guelph Alert Labs and Milieu Technologies showcased products that won each a spot in the Civic Accelerator for their unique ability to solve challenging City issues. “The Civic Accelerator turns local government into the first customer, and… Continue reading Pilot programs announced as Guelph wraps first round of Civic Accelerator

Guelph, Ont., February 8, 2017—Tree thinning in the red pine plantation at Arkell Springs forest is complete. This work is part of ongoing groundwater protection and forest care. Tree thinning will encourage the growth of a healthier and more natural forest. About 10,000 red pine trees (1,150 cords of wood) were removed from the plantation from November to January. This amounts to about one third of the red pine plantation. Trees at Arkell Springs forest were marked for removal in September 2014 and removal was scheduled to minimize impacts to local wildlife by avoiding work during breeding and fledging seasons. All trails in the Arkell Springs forest have reopened. What’s next? The City plans to plant a mixture of shade tolerant trees—largely maple and spruce species—in… Continue reading Arkell Springs forest red pine plantation thinning complete

2017 Non-tax-supported budget receives Council approval Guelph, Ont., November 3, 2016—Earlier this evening, Council approved the City’s Water, Wastewater Services and Stormwater Services, Ontario Building Code Administration and Court Services budgets for 2017. This is the first year that Stormwater Services is included in the non-tax-supported budget. “We have seen what the strong financial policies of Water and Wastewater Services can do to close the infrastructure gap and ensure healthy reserves,” says James Krauter, acting city treasurer. “The approval of the stormwater service fee will provide stable and dedicated funding for this critical service much like we have for water and wastewater.” Approved 2017 water and wastewater rates, effective January 1, 2017 Recommended rates and fees 2016 2017 change Water volume – $/cubic metre (m3)… Continue reading Council approves four dollar monthly residential stormwater service fee

Changes will make saving water easier Guelph, Ont., September 27, 2016—Last night Council unanimously approved the updated Water Efficiency Strategy presented by City staff at the September 6 Committee of the Whole meeting. “We are excited to move ahead with this updated strategy,” remarked Emily Stahl, acting manager of technical services for the City’s Water Services department. “Our community told us they want to do more to save water at home. The additions and improvements in the updated Water Efficiency Strategy offer fresh opportunities to take business and at-home water conservation efforts to the next level, and allow more of our community to participate.” Report highlights program improvements Program and service changes from the Water Efficiency Strategy include: Changing the Royal Flush rebate program to… Continue reading Council approves updated Water Efficiency Strategy

Enforced watering restrictions now in effect Guelph, Ont., June 6, 2016 — Due to local weather conditions, the City of Guelph is moving to Level 1 Yellow watering restrictions under the Outside Water Use Program effective immediately. At Level 1 Yellow, lawn watering is restricted to 7-9 a.m. and 7-9 p.m. on odd or even dates by address number—odd numbered houses are permitted to water on odd numbered calendar dates, and even numbered houses on even dates. “While we had some rain this weekend, the move up to Level 1 watering restrictions is largely due to a lack of significant rainfall over the last month,” said Emily Stahl, Supervisor of Water Efficiency for the City. “In fact, we moved into Level 1 around the same… Continue reading City moves Outside Water Use to Level 1 Yellow

A draft of the City’s final report on the Water Efficiency Strategy update is now available for public review and comment. Continue reading City presents recommended changes to water efficiency programs and services

City encourages residents to prepare for winter Guelph, ON, November 24, 2015—City Council approved a policy for frozen water pipes at last night’s Council meeting. The Frozen Water Pipe Policy was developed by staff following last winter’s unforeseen issues with frozen pipes when 376 customers were affected. In a typical year, less than twenty customers are affected by this issue. “The new policy identifies the response actions and  service the City will provide for customers with frozen pipes,” said Wayne Galliher, Manager of Technical Services. “Last winter we quickly developed and continued to adjust support resources in response to the record numbers of frozen water pipe reports we received. We have improved, clarified and formalized the support options through the policy, which will form our… Continue reading Council approves Frozen Water Pipe Policy