Water is an essential human need that we cannot live without. For example, doctors recommend that people should drink at least eight glasses of water in a day to remain healthy. In addition to drinking, we also continuously use water to cook, shower, and clean.
In essence, no one can avoid using water. However, potable water, as well as clean water for use, is increasingly become scarce and expensive to acquire considering the increasing water demands due to explosive population growth and the ever-rising costs of water treatment.
As such, what is clear is that water bills will continue rising, requiring more and more people to pay huge water bills. But since we cannot avoid using water, the only viable solution is trying as much as possible to reduce the water bill by using water prudently. And among the best strategies is avoiding or reducing wastages. Some of the amazing ways one can implement to reduce water bill, therefore, include:
15+ Interesting Ways to Reduce Your Water Bill
1. Repair leaks
You should check your water lines thoroughly to identify leaks. Water leaks should not be underestimated as they can be the reason your water bill is always high. A water drip from a faucet can look harmless or even too little to make a difference, but when the drip is continuous, it can lead to losing a few water gallons in a day, which can be excessive in a month.
It might surprise you to know that the faucet leak that you consider harmless can contribute up to three months of your utility bill when allowed to continue leaking for a year. A proven way to reduce your water bill in the long term is to repair water leaks immediately they arise. You will need to identify the cause of the leak in the first place. Some causes of the water leaks can be easily fixed while others may need the services of a qualified plumber.
For example, if the faucets were not properly fixed, they could cause the leak. They could also cause the leak if they are damaged. Once you understand the problem, you should take the right measure to fix the problem. In addition to saving you money by reducing your water bill, fixing leaks also protects your home from the damage that can cost you a lot of money to fix.
2. Replace your old appliances with water-efficient products
The old appliances usually use a lot of water as they were not designed to be water efficient. You should consider upgrading your appliances with efficient products. Replacing your old dishwasher, washing machine, and toilet, for example, can save you a substantial amount of money in the long term.
It is always good if you are doing a home remodel to replace your existing appliances with the latest efficient and cost-saving ones. For example, if you are using an older showerhead, you could be using at least five more gallons per minute, which translates up to 136 gallons of water per shower.
If, for example, your shower head was manufactured before 1992, replace can save at least 136 gallons of water per shower. And if you install a modern low-flow toilet, you will be able to save at least 1.3 gallons per flush.
3. Install faucet aerators
If replacing your appliances is not feasible, you should consider installing faucet aerators. Faucet aerators reduce water usage by limiting the water that flows through the faucets. Installing aerators on all faucets in your home can significantly reduce your water bill.
4. Be creative around your appliances
Every time you flush your toilet, you flush a substantial amount of money down the toilet. Unfortunately, the toilet must be flushed every time it is used. Another fact is that every time you flush your toilet, you use all water in the tank. Assuming that you have five people residing in your home who visit the toilet at least three times a day, it would translate to at least 15 toilet tank refills.
Assuming that your toilet tank holds 10 gallons of water, it would translate to 150 gallons of water being used for flushing your toilet daily. In a month, it would be at least 4500 gallons of water used to flush the toilet. You can reduce your water bill by reducing the amount of water used to flush your toilet.
A creative method you can use is to trick the tank into holding less water. You can take a plastic bottle, fill it with water and put it in the tank. In this method, you will be able to save the amount of water in the bottle with every flush. You can also put sand in the plastic bottle to gain the same outcome.
5. Use your dishwasher and laundry machine for full loads only
It is usually a habit to keep your dishes and clothes clean at all times, but washing utensils and clothes use a substantial amount of water. Instead, you can refrain from washing your utensils and clothes several times a day or a week by waiting until you have a full load of clothes and dishes to save water.
Waiting until you have a full load not only helps you save water, but it also lets you save energy and money. You can also save water by setting the water of your laundry machine and dishwasher to a lower level. You can also save water by skipping the permanent press cycle that uses extra gallons of water for the additional rinse cycle.
If you notice that you need an extra rinse, you should cut back on the laundry detergent that you use to clean. Although they are minor changes, they can save you hundreds of gallons a month.
6. Always turn the water off
Most people have a habit of letting the water run even when they are not using it. For example, when taking a bath, you can save a lot of water by turning off the water when scrubbing and conditioning your hair and switching it back on when you are ready to rinse. It should also be the case when scrubbing your face, brushing your teeth, and even when washing something on a sink.
7. Collect rainwater
The most efficient way to reduce your water bill is to collect and use rainwater. Harvesting rainwater is affordable as you only need to install the right tools. The water you save depends on the amount of water you collect. Harvesting your rainwater can help reduce your water bill to almost nil if there is adequate rainfall in your area or if you can collect a lot of water when it rains.
You can use the water to clean your home, wash clothes, clean utensils, and garden. If proper hygiene measures are put in place, the water can also be used to cook and drink.
8. Reuse and recycle water
Most people are quick to throw away water after using it. However, instead of throwing away water, you should consider collecting the water for reuse and recycle. It is not economical to throw away water left in drinking glasses. Instead, you should collect the water and use it to water your plants. You can also use the water you used to rinse utensils to clean your home or even flush the toilet.
9. Cover the pool
Pools account for a huge amount of water used in a homestead. An effective way to reduce your water bill is to reduce the need to refill your pool. You can minimize how often you refill your pool by ensuring that your pool is always covered whenever you are not using it. Covering the pool reduces evaporation ensuring that you fill it less frequently.
10. Embrace native landscaping
Landscaping makes your home beautiful and welcoming. Unfortunately, to keep your garden beautiful, you will need to water plants and grass frequently. You can save water by reducing the number of times you water your garden in a month or a week. You can also reduce your water bill by planting native, drought-resistant grasses in your garden.
Native plants have survived for years without much care and thus, they need very little watering to survive. Furthermore, when watering the garden, it is always of essence to ensure that the water is directed where it is needed and not on the sidewalk and driveway to avoid unnecessary wastage.
11. Sweep more frequently on sidewalks, driveways, and steps
Instead of spraying down dirty sidewalks, driveways, and steps, you should consider sweeping away dirt and debris with a broom to save water.
12. Flush less frequently
For a garbage disposal unit to operate properly, it needs a large volume of running water. You can reduce your water bill by opting for a compost pile as opposed to sending food scraps down the sink.
13. Store cold water in the fridge
Tap water is usually warm on a hot day. When you need cool water, you have to let the water run for some seconds before it cools down. You can avoid wasting water by ensuring that you have cool water in the fridge that you can drink or use when you need cool water.
14. Avoid taking long showers
Hot and long showers are highly relaxing. However, every unnecessary minute you stay in the bathroom adds up to your water bill. In fact, if you can reduce the time you spend in the shower by only 4 minutes, you can reduce your water usage by up to 4000 gallons of water annually.
15. Avoid hand-washing utensils with running water
You are more likely to use more water when hand washing utensils than when using a dishwasher, especially if the water is flowing directly from the faucet. If not using a dishwashing machine, you can use a dishwashing bowl or basin with one for washing and another for rinsing. You will be surprised how much water you can save in a year.
16. Water your garden early in the morning or late in the evening
You can reduce your water bill by watering your garden very early in the morning or late in the evening. Watering during these times considerably aid in minimizing evaporation. Besides, it encourages more water holding capacity of the soil, thereby making your garden healthier and watered longer.
