WaterSmart Toolkit
Developed from six years of POLIS Water Sustainability Project practice and research, the WaterSmart Toolkit offers practical resources for community water conservation. The Toolkit supports communities as they transition from supply-side management to long-term integrated water conservation planning. It is designed to help municipal staff and community leaders plan and implement effective conservation initiatives that will work to ensure a sustainable water future. The main components of the WaterSmart Toolkit are described below. For further information contact us at water@polisproject.org or download the WaterSmart Brochure.
Water Conservation Planning Guidebook
Our Water Conservation Planning Guidebook seeks to enhance local government capacity for effective water conservation planning by summarizing core research on water-wise strategies and practices in an easy to use guidebook.
Whether you know a little or a lot about water conservation, this guidebook is designed to help users develop a water conservation plan using a step-by-step process.
Each step includes case studies on topical issues, a handy "To Do" list and additional resources that begin to demonstrate the full potential of the water soft path approach.
The Water Conservation Planning Guide for British Columbia's Communities was written in partnership with the Ministry of Community and Rural Development.
The Water Conservation Planning Quick Guide highlights some of the leading available resources that support effective water conservation planning including Planning Manuals and Case Studies.
WSP Water Conservation Workshop Roadshow
The Roadshow series brings the WaterSmart Toolkit to the doors of municipalities across Canada. Integrating hands-on learning with grounded research and practical experience, this workshop seeks to equip participants with the tools and resources needed to plan and implement effective long-term comprehensive water conservation programs. The workshops allow local government staff and community water planners to tailor their respective water conservation plans to the challenges in their particular community.
Workshops include the following sessions:
- Long-term water conservation planning: "Where do I start?"
- Setting water-saving goals using the POLIS WaterSmart Scenario Builder
- Assessing water conservation measures and tools: "Selecting what’s right for you"
- Tools in action: Water conservation-based pricing, POLIS water conservation-GHG emissions calculator, and community-based social marketing
- Linking water conservation with community stakeholders: hosted by the University of Waterloo’s Blue Builders Project
- Developing an implementation plan including an overview of grant programs and funding sources
WaterSmart Scenario Builder: Soft Path Water Analysis Tool
The WaterSmart Scenario Builder is a spreadsheet-based calculator that allows users to explore the potential for water and greenhouse gas emissions savings through the application of water efficiency and conservation measures.
The Scenario Builder is designed to develop and test various future water scenarios using a backcasting framework. This calculator is not intended to replace a detailed conservation audit or water efficiency plan, but assists communities with a preliminary evaluation of various scenarios under a Soft Path planning approach.
Please contact Carol Maas for access to the Water Smart Scenario Builder.
Water Soft Path Pilot Projects
The WSP's national soft path pilot project program supports communities in moving away from supply-side solutions towards a more sustainable approach to water management. The WSP team works with community leaders and local governments to develop tailored soft path strategies for communities across Canada. By working directly with local leaders, communities are able to determine what their soft paths will ultimately look like.
WSP research demonstrates that a soft path approach to designing and implementating a water conservation plan can reduce water use by one-third to one-half using existing off-the-shelf technologies and programs. Our goal is to show that notable savings are achievable and, more importantly, that water sustainability is a real possibility.
Tailored strategies have been developed for three Brtiish Columbia communities and one Ontario community:
A Soft Path Strategy for Fergus-Elora, Ontario (June 2011)
A Soft Path Strategy for Salt Spring Island, B.C. (March 2010)
Soft Path for Water Strategy for the Abbotsford/Mission Water and Sewer Commission (August 2009)
A New Path to Water Sustainability for the Town of Oliver, BC (February 2007)
Below is a link to a presentation on the WSP's soft path pilot project program given at the Canadian Water and Wastewater Association's 3rd National Conference and Policy Forum on Water Efficiency and Conservation in Victoria, B.C. (October 2009):
Water Sustainability Charter
The Water Sustainability Charter (March 2009) offers a framework for communities to address local water visions and unique management concerns while contributing to a broader national and international effort to begin addressing the looming global water crisis. The Charter strives to improve dialogue between water managers and water users and emphasizes a participatory approach to water management.
