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Stop Flushing Money Down the Drain With These 8 Water-Saving Tips

Updated:
  • Americans spend an average of $47 per month on their water bill.
  • How much you spend will depend on how careful you are with your water usage.
  • Did you know that showers use less water than baths? Did you know that you can transform your regular toilet into a low-flow one? Read on for those tips and more!
  • Have you considered using an app to track your utilities spending?

Water is the most precious resource we have. We cook, clean, and drink it, the latter of which is vital to our survival. But as critical as it is, water is not a free resource. On average, Americans spend roughly $47 per month on their water bill. Water isn’t something we can cut from our daily lives in order to save money, but there are still ways to limit your water usage, which will help lower the water bill. Try the methods below to save money instead of draining it from your wallet. 

Take Shorter Showers (and Skip Baths)

This one should seem obvious, but it’s easy to lose track of time while showering. Showerheads use upward of 2.5 gallons per minute, which is about 40 gallons per day for the average household. A shorter shower — typically around three to five minutes — is more than enough to get the body clean. Another option is to alternate the days you shower. Depending on your lifestyle, you may not need to shower every day. That’s ultimately up to personal preference.

Baths can have therapeutic qualities and they’re a nice way to unwind after a stressful day, but the amount of water needed to fill the average bathtub far exceeds the amount needed for a shower. If you regularly take baths instead of showers, consider switching. It’s still fine to indulge on occasion. 

Turn Off the Faucet When Brushing Your Teeth

Let’s face it: We’re all guilty of leaving the faucet running sometimes — especially when brushing our teeth. We’ll be rinsing the brush soon anyway, so how much water could we really use? More than you’d think. It doesn’t use much water each individual time, but it builds up to a major stressor on the water bill. Taking a few extra seconds to turn off the faucet will save big bucks in the long run. The same goes for flossing, shaving, and even washing your hands. You don’t need the water on while you’re soaping up.

Keep Water in the Fridge

Nobody likes drinking lukewarm water. It’s easy to reach for the tap to fill up your glass or bottle, but doing that for each individual glass will put a strain on your water bill. For ice-cold water instantly, invest in a pitcher for the refrigerator instead. Fill it up with tap water and leave it in the fridge for a few hours. Having to refill the pitcher rather than individual bottles will cut back on household water consumption — but not your own!

You may be thinking: Why don’t I just drink from water bottles then? That may seem like a simple solution, but the cost of the bottles will add up and quickly surpass what you may have saved by switching. Pitchers and reusable water bottles may be more expensive initially, but they save money (and the planet) in the long run. 

Trick Your Appliances

Low-flush toilets and other such appliances are amazing. They offer the same capabilities as their more standard counterparts, but at a fraction of the water usage. Unfortunately, they can be more expensive. Not every household can afford to replace all their appliances, even if it’s to save money in the end. But what if you could turn your existing toilet into a low-flush one for cheap?

All you need is a small, waterproof object — preferably one that’s somewhat heavy. A brick is a popular choice, but some people use a plastic bottle filled with water. Empty the toilet’s tank and place the object at the bottom, away from anything it could get caught in. Allow the tank to refill. The object will displace the water and less will fill the tank. Presto — an instant low-flush tank!

The reason low-flush toilets are so desirable is that a typical toilet empties its whole tank when flushed. Say you take four bathroom breaks per day and your toilet’s tank holds 10 gallons; that’s 40 gallons of perfectly good water, literally flushed away.

Make Sure Your Dishwasher and Washing Machine Are Full

Another obvious one we’re all guilty of is using the dishwasher or washing machine nowhere near its full capacity. Sometimes we need a specific shirt or dish cleaned, so we run the appliance without filling it up. But using so much water on a select few items is a major waste. Whenever possible, fill the washing machine or dishwasher to capacity — but it’s important not to overfill! Loading up too much will prevent the clothes or dishes from getting clean. You’ll have to run the appliance again, ultimately wasting even more water.

Ditch the Lawn

A well-kept, green lawn seems like the American dream, but it’s far from ideal. Lawns are considered “biologically dead” and aren’t healthy in many environments. Americans also use a collective 8 billion gallons of water to keep them pristine. Reinvent your lawn by planting drought-resistant, native grasses, shrubs, and trees. Not only will this save on water (since you won’t have to tend to them as frequently), but you’ll also be promoting healthy biodiversity in your community. Plus you’ll have a unique landscape compared to your neighbors! 

Patch Up the Leaks

No appliance or pipe lasts forever, but replacing them can be costly and time-consuming. Something equally costly? Letting them leak. If you find a leak, patch it up to the best of your ability. Leaks not only waste water (and thus money), but they also decrease water pressure and flow. That results in additional time spent with the faucet running to get things cleaned or filled properly. Even a bit of duct tape can work as a temporary solution, but call a local expert immediately if there is a major leak.

Invest in a Rain Barrel

This one admittedly is climate-dependent, but a rain barrel may be a worthwhile purchase if you live somewhere with frequent rain. Rainwater may not be drinkable, but it can be used for other tasks. Watering plants is the obvious one, but it’s also perfect for washing cars. Just mix it with a bit of soap. It’s cheaper and just as effective as any professional car wash.

It’s possible to drink water from a rain barrel, but it will need to be sterilized first, which can be accomplished by boiling it. Rainwater can be contaminated with parasites, viruses, and other nasty things, though, so leave it for the plants and automobiles if you have access to clean drinking water from the tap.