City of Guelph Water Conservation and

Efficiency Program

Wayne GalliherWater Conservation Project Manager

• Growing city with approximately 120,000 residents, located 100 km west of Toronto

• Sustainability is a guiding principle of our local growth management strategy

City of Guelph Background

Sustainability and GrowthIdentified as one of Ontario’s places to grow.

Challenges• Assimilative Capacity of Speed River for increased

Wastewater Effluent Loading

• Environmental and Fiscally Sustainable Water Supply

Solution• Guelph’s Local Growth Management Strategy

City of Guelph Strategic PlanGoal 6 - Leader in conservation and resource protection/enhancement

Objective 6.5 - Use less energy and water per capita than any comparable Canadian City

Water Supply Master Plan (2006)• 10% (5,300 m3/day) reduction in average day water use by 2010• 15% (7,950 m3/day) reduction in average day water use by

2017• 20% (10,600 m3/day) reduction in average day water use by

2025

Water Reduction Goals

City of Guelph Annual Water Production vs. Population Growth

• Approved by Guelph City Council in May 2009

• Multi-sector approach (Res/ICI/Dev/Municipal)

• 10-year, $20M strategy with goal of reducing average day water use by 8,773 m3/day by 2019

• Accounted for operational and GHG co-benefits

• Reclaimed water and wastewater capacity is estimated to defer need for $44 million in equivalent infrastructure costs.

2009 Guelph WCE Strategy Update

Comparing “apples to apples”Cost of new capacity vs. Cost of reclaimed capacity

Water Infrastructure Construction CostsNew water supply alternative

Cost range ($/cubic meter supply)

Water reclaimed through conservation

$2,310

Construction of new local supply

$795 - $3,000

Construction of Great Lakes pipeline

$3,700

Wastewater Infrastructure Construction Costs

New wastewater treatment alternative

Cost range ($/cubic meter treatment capacity)

Phase 2 plant expansion

$2,225

Phase 3 plant expansion

$5,128

Increasing Program Focus

Challenges• Participation and saturation• Market readiness• Sustainability of savings

Opportunities• Innovation and local capacity building• Education, CBSM and mass customization• Evolving regulations

Looking Ahead

Thank you!

For more information, visit

guelph.ca/waterconservation