The City of Guelph has implemented a Water Conservation and Efficiency Program to address challenges of population growth, including increased wastewater effluent and sustainable water supply. The program aims to reduce average daily water use by 8,773 cubic meters by 2019 through conservation initiatives. This is estimated to defer $44 million in infrastructure costs and is more cost effective than developing new water and wastewater treatment capacity. Looking ahead, continued participation and customized education programs can help sustain savings as challenges like program saturation emerge.

1. City of Guelph
Water Conservation and
Efficiency Program
Wayne Galliher
Water Conservation Project Manager

2. City of Guelph Background
• Growing city with approximately 120,000
residents, located 100 km west of Toronto
• Sustainability is a guiding principle of our local
growth management strategy

3. Sustainability and Growth
Identified 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

4. Water Reduction Goals
City of Guelph Strategic Plan
Goal 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

6. City of Guelph Annual Water Production vs. Population Growth

7. 2009 Guelph WCE Strategy Update
• 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.

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

9. Water Infrastructure Construction Costs
New water supply Cost range
alternative ($/cubic meter supply)
Water reclaimed through $2,310
conservation
Construction of new local $795 - $3,000
supply
Construction of Great $3,700
Lakes pipeline

10. Wastewater Infrastructure Construction Costs
New wastewater Cost range
treatment alternative ($/cubic meter treatment
capacity)
Phase 2 plant $2,225
expansion
Phase 3 plant $5,128
expansion

11. Increasing Program Focus

12. Looking Ahead
Challenges
• Participation and saturation
• Market readiness
• Sustainability of savings
Opportunities
• Innovation and local capacity building
• Education, CBSM and mass customization
• Evolving regulations

13. Thank you!
For more information, visit
guelph.ca/waterconservation