Everyone is concerned with saving money in today’s tough economic times. Yet even more folks are concerned with saving water, thanks to recent droughts and a new awareness of the needs of Mother Earth. Here’s how to save money on your water bill at the same time you cut back on water use to save the planet.
Turn off the water when you aren’t actively using it
Running the water when it’s not actively in use wastes thousands of gallons of water each year. But it’s simple to fix as well. Remember to turn the water off while you’re brushing your teeth or scrubbing your hands for more than a few seconds. For men who use a traditional razor, run some hot water in the sink to clean off the razor instead of running hot water the entire time.
Get in tune with nature
Landscape with native plants that don’t need frequent watering, a practice known as “xeriscaping.” If growing vegetables, consider growing them in containers to reduce the amount of water needed. Then be sure to water lawns or gardens in early morning or late evening when it’s cooler. Watering in daylight hours results in more evaporation.
Adjust your laundry settings
Wash in cold water instead of hot or warm. Even some warm-water garments can be washed in cold water. In addition, always check the washer settings in advance to make sure you’re not using more water than necessary.
Use the dishwasher instead of hand washing dishes
I was surprised to learn that using a dishwasher consumes less water than washing dishes by hand. That’s because most people let the water run while rinsing dishes. If you must wash by hand, use two tubs, one for soapy water and one for rinsing. To be really water efficient, take the rinse water outside afterward and give the garden a drink!
Replace your shower-head
Get a high efficiency shower-head instead. Or you can get extreme by taking a “Navy shower”; get in, get wet, turn off the water, lather up and then rinse off.
Install a low-flow toilet
There are a lot of affordable options for high efficiency toilets. A inexpensive option is the Aquasource Toilet for around $99 at Lowes. You can attempt to install it yourself to save on labor, or call a licensed Memphis plumber like myself to install it to save the hassle. If that’s not possible, fill a half-gallon milk jug with water, seal the cap with waterproof tape and place it in the toilet tank. This will displace enough water so that the tank uses less to fill up.
Stay out of the car wash
Clean the car with a bucket of soapy water and a wet sponge, then hose it down to rinse.
Get out the old broom
Use an outdoor broom to sweep off sidewalks, driveways and patios instead of hosing them to clean.
Install aerators on the bottom of your faucets
Aerators will cut down on the flow without losing water pressure. Newer faucets may already have this feature.