Start with these 10 ways to save money on your water bill.
1. Use less water. Make sure to turn your water off as you brush your teeth, soap your hands, and rinse dishes. Download a shower timer app and take shorter showers. The app “Shower Timer” will even let you program when you want it to remind you to soap, shampoo, and condition.
2. Shave your legs over an empty bathtub and use a cup to rinse your razor as you shave. When you finish run the water to rinse your legs off. Men should use a cup to rinse the razor as they shave instead of letting the sink water run.
3. Install low-flow shower heads and toilets to reduce the amount of water that is used to operate. If you don’t have a low-flow toilet, consider purchasing an inexpensive tank bank or float booster to reduce the amount of water it uses.
4. Run a full load of dishes and laundry. Put as many dishes as possible into the dishwasher instead of hand washing them and avoid rinsing them off; that’s the dishwasher’s job! The dishwasher uses up to 1/6th the amount of water that hand washing dishes uses. If you must hand wash, fill up a container with water and use that to rinse off your dishes. Also, turn off the heated dry on your dishwasher. It uses 15% more energy than air drying.
5. Check frequently for leaks. Check your house water meter before and after a two-hour period when no water is being used. If it reads differently, you have a leak.
6. Insulate your water pipes, especially if you live in an older home. You will get hot water faster and avoid a busted pipe in the winter.
7. Stop using the kitchen sink garbage disposal. Running the water to wash the food down the drain is adding to your monthly bill. Instead, look into making your own compost pile or just take the food directly to the trash can outside.
8. Keep a bucket beside the tub/shower and a pitcher by the sink. Use these to collect the water as it runs to heat up for bathing and cooking. The collected water can be used for boiling food or watering indoor or outdoor plants.
9. Water your lawn only when it needs it. We rarely water our grass while our neighbor waters theirs daily. Our lawns look the same. If you do water your lawn, make sure you do it early in the morning and avoid watering when it is windy.
10. If you wash your car at home turn off the faucet after you wet your car, soap your car, and then rinse your car. Letting the hose run while you wash it is wasting the money you save by not taking it to a car wash.
Find out all the ways to save with our helpful Savings Bingo!