TORONTO - As Canadians, we may pride ourselves on the natural resources and beauty of our country, yet according to a recent study, 72% of us admit to flushing garbage down the toilet.

The Canadian Water Attitudes Study, which aims at identifying and responding to regional and national water issues, polled 2,066 Canadians. It found that 55% believe that fresh water is Canada's most important natural resource, and 78% are trying to conserve usage. Surprisingly though, Canadians flush hair, food, cigarette butts and bugs down the toilet, wasting between 6 and 20 litres of fresh water with each flush.

This is in spite the fact that Canadians are well informed on the quality of water in their toilet and how much is wasted. 80% are aware that toilet water is just as clean as tap water, and 76% know that almost half of the water used in their house is flushed down the toilet.

“This data highlights, once again, that Canadians are not making the connection between their personal water use and the true value of water,” said Bob Sandford, EPCOR Chair, Canadian Partnership Initiative of the UN Water for Life Decade. “They claim to care about conserving it, yet knowingly engage in water wasting activities, including using fresh, clean water to dispose of garbage. Canadians need to understand that water is a finite resource and there are significant social and economic implications related to wasting it.”

Canadians use, on average, 329 liters of water a day. According to the survey, 67% of Canadians underestimated this amount. Canadian’s water wasting habits such as leaving the water running when doing the dishes and hosing down the driveway are contributing to high water usage.

According to the study, Canadians are in the dark when it comes to the cost of water. While 61% admit they do not know how much their household currently pays for water, they actually have a strong opinion about its cost: 70% believe that the unknown price is high enough to ensure water is treated as a valuable resource.

“Water is a real bargain in Canada, which is another reason Canadians have no concept of its value,” said Sandford. “Compared to other developed nations, Canadians pay very little to have water delivered to their homes. In France, water costs four times more, and in Germany, almost seven times more. Not surprisingly, average daily domestic water use in these countries is less than half of what it is in Canada. Until Canadians make the connection between personal use of water and its true value, our water wasting habits will continue.”

Here are some of the highlights of the survey:

Canadians try a bit harder to save electricity than water

• Only 40% of Canadians make the connection between water and electricity, understanding that it requires energy to treat and pump water; 32% don’t think at all about the connection
• 86% of Canadians say they try at least reasonably hard to conserve electricity, while only 78% say they try at least reasonably hard to conserve water

Confidence in Canada’s drinking water growing

• Canadians’ level of confidence in the safety and quality of Canada’s drinking water has increased significantly over the past two years, from 72% in 2009 to 86% in 2011; confidence is highest in British Columbia, at 92%, and lowest in Quebec, at 69%
• 91% who drink tap water in their home are confident in its safety and quality; confidence is highest in Ontario at 97%, and lowest in Quebec at 83%
• When it comes to the source of water they “typically” drink, 48% drink  water directly from their tap; 28% drink filtered water; 21% drink bottled water and 14% drink water from a large-jug cooler

Confidence in Canada’s long-term supply of water has also increased

• Canadians’ level of confidence that Canada has enough freshwater for the long-term has increased over the past two years, from 70% in 2009 to 77% in 2011; confidence is highest in British Columbia, at%; Quebecers are disproportionately less confident at 63%

Canadians increasingly concerned about the quality of water in Canada’s lakes

• Almost 87% of Canadians are concerned about the quality of water in lakes where they swim;  Quebecers are most concerned 90%, followed by Ontarians and Maritimes, both at 88%
• 63% of Canadians believe that the quality of their swimming lakes is getting worse