There are many things that you can do to save money on a monthly basis with your home water bill. The following list are items that you can purchase that will not break the bank but can reduce your payment.
{Photo Courtesy: The Art of Making a Baby}
1. Invest in a ONE gallon per minute sink aerator.
- The average bathroom sink puts out anywhere from 2-3 gallons per minute. However, you don’t really need that kind of force for your bathroom faucets. Investing in a simple aerator that screws onto the bottom of the faucet like this will literally cut that amount in half.
2. Inspect all toilets for leaks, and fix immediately.
- Your toilet may be leaking, and you may not even hear it. By purchasing these toilet leak detector tabs, and simply putting them in the tank and walking away for about 15 minutes, you can see if there is any water leaking into the bowl. If there is a leak, you need to fix it right away.
- Speaking of toilets, did you know that they are the number one user of water inside your home?
- The average older toilet uses between 4-7 gallons per flush.
3. Use a “cold water” bucket.
- You can buy a 2 gallon bucket anywhere for cheap. (Both Lowe’s and Home Depot have buckets for less than $2) Basically, the point of the cold water bucket is to catch the water in your shower that goes down the drain while you’re waiting for the water to turn hot. Here are some things you can do with all the cold water that you “catch” in your bucket: use it to flush your toilet,water your plants, fill your pet’s water bowl, clean with, fill your humidifiers etc. It’s your water that you’re paying for- why let it go down the drain unused?
4. Check into your city’s rebates for upgrading to HE items.
- This one just takes your time. Many city water companies will come to your home and inspect it for leaks, while giving you water-saving advice, for free. Also, check to see if the city offers any rebate programs for water efficient items such as new toilets, and HE washing machines. Learn about those incentives and rebates, because they may really pay off for you.
{Photo Courtesy: The Memoirs of Megan}
5. Buy a shower coach to teach you and your family about water conservation in the shower.
- Something like this shower coach may really help your family learn to conserve water while showering. The average shower head lets 2.5 gallons of water per minute through it. If you cut your 10 minute shower in half, you can save about 400 gallons per month. This timer is just a friendly reminder of how much time you’re spending in the shower, and would be especially helpful for training children who are showering in the household as well.
It’s also important to see where you use the most water in your home. The below pie chart shows the average household.
{Photo Source: Water Research Foundation.}
Have you checked out our SAVE board on Pinterest yet? It’s a great place to find other money-saving tips.
