How Reduce Water Usage and Save On Your Water Bills

Tips For Saving Money on Your Water Bill

By: Jon Boyd Barrett

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Water usage can quickly add up, but by making yourself aware of the possible water wastage around your house, and by following these water conservation tips, you could easily save money on your monthly water bill. As an added incentive, not only will you keep your water bill low, you will also be helping to save energy as well as the environment.

Fix Water Leaks

Possibly the biggest and most needless wastage of water comes from faucets and water pipes with leaks. The smallest of drips could be wasting 750 gallons of water a month. A 1.5mm stream of dribble is wasting 3,000 gallons monthly, and could be costing you as much as $25 on each water bill. Don’t wait to fix a leak if you are serious about keeping your water costs low.

The Shower

Generally, it will take more water to run a bath than to take a shower, but this may depend on how long your shower is, so limit your shower time. Even if your showers are just 2 minutes shorter than usual, you will still be saving gallons of water every month. Consider purchasing a low flow shower head. You can get something good for around $50. Think of it as an investment. Through the savings on your water bill, you will make that money back in no time.

The Toilet

Flush the toilet less. This doesn't mean you have to leave things behind, just don’t flush it for the simple things, like tissues.
If you have an old toilet, these tend to conserve less water. Consider placing a water filled plastic bottle in the tank. This takes up space, meaning your tank will use less water per flush.
Although quite an expensive option, you could install a low flow toilet. For a family of 4, the low flow toilet will save about 22,000 gallons of water a year. The cost of the toilet would run in the $300’s plus installation costs, so it could be a while before you see the savings. However, if you plan to be in your house for the next few years or are replacing the toilet anyway, it may be worth it.
For the hardcore savers, use a bucket to collect the cold water from the shower while you are waiting for it to heat up. Then you can use this water to flush the toilet.

At the Bathroom Sink

Another water conservation tip is to not keep the water running while brushing your teeth or washing your face. If shaving, put a plug in the drain and only use as much water as you need.

At the Kitchen Sink

Use the plug and fill the sink with soapy water. There is no need to waste water by washing dishes under a running faucet.

When waiting for the faucet water to heat or cool, you can collect it in a container rather than let it run down the drain. The water can be put in water bottles for drinking, saved for later cooking, put in a coffee maker, a kettle, or any other appliance that would require it.

Dishwashers and Washing Machines

To really keep the water bill low, limit the usage of the washing machine and dishwasher. Try running these only when full. Washing dishes by hand will use less water than dishwashers, and will also save energy. If you do use a dishwasher, then set it to the highest efficiency setting.

Using Water Outside

When washing your sidewalk or porch, use a small bucket of water and a brush.
Place a barrel outside to collect rainwater. Collected rainwater can then be used to water the lawn and other plants.
Watering in the early morning or evening means less water will evaporate, and the lawn and plants will require less.

Washing the Car

If you are washing your car, there is really no need to waste gallons and gallons of water with a hose. Use a bucket of warm soapy warm and a sponge.

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