In 2024, Cochrane’s water treatment plant produced 3,061 million litres of water, with residential homes using approximately 2,064 million litres. On average, households used:
- 388 litres/day in winter (11,500 litres/month)
- 463 litres/day in summer (13,800 litres/month)
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Typical household water use
If you are concerned about your household water use, it helps to compare your usage to the average for common fixtures and appliances. This can give you a better idea of where you might be using more water than expected:
- Shower — 76 litres for a 10-minute shower with a low-flow showerhead
- Dishwasher — 15 litres per load (high efficiency) or up to 40 litres per load (older models)
- Laundry — 45 litres per load (high efficiency) or up to 140 litres per load (older machine)
- Toilet — about 4.8 litres per flush (modern) or up to 13 litres per flush (older models); flushing four times a day uses between 19.2 and 52 litres daily
- Lawn sprinkler — 225 litres for 15 minutes of watering
- Water softener — 135 to 2,500 litres per regeneration cycle, depending on system size and settings
- Furnace humidifier — about 45 litres per day, depending on humidistat settings
Water meters
Cochrane uses two types of water meters to measure water use. All meters are equipped with radio transmitters to collect monthly readings, and 77 per cent of homes have meters that store hourly data for up to 35 days — making it easier to identify unusual usage patterns.
Indoor water conservation
Outdoor water conservation tips
Cochrane’s residential water use increases by as much as 30 per cent in the summer, thanks to increased demand outdoors, such as watering lawns and plants or filling pools. Some of that precious water ends up in the storm drain or evaporates before people or plants can use it or runs down the sidewalk into the storm drain.
Using water wisely outdoors and naturescaping your yard helps conserve resources, lowers your water bill and supports the health of the Bow River ecosystem.
We share the Bow River with many other communities and stakeholders, and we all need a reliable water supply for domestic use, power generation, waste treatment, agriculture, firefighting and recreation. We also need to leave water in the Bow River for aquatic life, riparian vegetation and wildlife habitat.
Simple ways to conserve water outdoors
- Be water wise — Water your lawn early in the morning or late in the evening (before 10 a.m. or after 7 p.m.).
- Use a timer — To avoid overwatering, install a timer on your sprinkler.
- Sweep, don’t spray — Use a broom instead of a hose to clean driveways and sidewalks.
- Collect rainwater — Set up rain barrels to capture water for your garden.
- Fix leaks — Regularly check outdoor taps, hoses and irrigation systems for leaks.
Naturescaping and landscaping
Naturescaping (also known as xeriscaping) is about designing your yard to use less water while creating a beautiful, low-maintenance space. Many indigenous species of trees and shrubs will not need more water than nature provides once they have established an extensive root system (usually two growing seasons).
Here are some basic steps to naturescaping your yard:
Ready to plant?
Creating a water-wise, beautiful yard starts from the ground up. Understanding your soil and choosing the right plants can make a big difference in water conservation and maintenance.
Know your soil
Soil conditions in Cochrane can vary widely — even within the same yard. Before planting, dig around and examine your soil. If your soil is sandy, it will drain quickly. If it’s clay, it will hold water but can have poor drainage.
Tip: Improve your soil by adding mulch, compost or conditioners like manure, sand or perlite. Aerating the soil also helps with water absorption and root growth.