Water Conservation Made Simple
It’s simple – saving water means saving money. Saving money on your water bill is usually top of mind for most residents, and why not? Not only can you save yourself a few bucks you can also assist with water conservation in our area.
When people think about saving water – they can get frustrated, but you don’t have to. There are many ways to save on your water usage that doesn’t have to be daunting or over-the-top. Some simple changes can really add savings to your overall monthly usage. Here are 7 ways to reduce your water bill.
1. Checking for Leaks
Leaks are usually the number one culprit when it comes to rising water bills. Leaks can waste more than 6000 liters every month in an average household and that means paying for tens of thousands of liters of water on your bill throughout the year. A few times a year you should check to see if you have any leaks around the house. Using things like dye tablets can really help determine any leaks. The most common offenders for leaks: aging toilets, faucets, showerheads and outdoor faucets.
2.Don’t keep the tap running
This is a common oversight. Every drop counts so make sure to turn off your tap when you’re not using it. Whether it’s washing the dishes, watering the garden, shaving or even brushing your teeth – don’t let the water run. Keeping the taps in mind while doing these activities could save as much as 66 liters of water per day – saving on average, over $35 a year on water fees!
3. Replacing older toilets
Ensuring that you have newer equipment in your home can really help add savings each month. Things like replacing your toilet with a low-flow model is a simple way to cut down on usage. Often, you really don’t need that much to effectively flush your toilet.
4. The time you water your lawn
Watering lawns and gardens is the number one reason that people see their water bills increase during the summer months. Making sure you water your lawn early in the morning or late at night will help allow the water to sink into the ground without evaporating in the mid-day heat. The average lawn watering can cost between $8.90 and $13.24 per occurrence (based on estimates). Also, trying to avoid overwatering will help reduce your overall usage.
5. Full loads
By making sure you only wash full loads with your dishwasher and laundry machine – you can cut down your usage greatly. As both of those machines are used frequently throughout the week, a few changes on how they get used can really help out. Do what you can to fill full loads so that the whole process is that much more efficient.
6. Reuse and Recycle
As strange as it may sound, reusing water can be a very effective way of conserving water. When waiting for a shower to heat up, you could collect the cold water to reuse elsewhere – like watering your plants. It all adds up – every last drop!
7. Replacing showerheads
A very easy and simple way to reduce water usage is to replace showerheads and aerators. Changing to a low-flow showerhead can save thousands of gallons per year. On average, faucets account for 20% of water usage in an average home so by changing your faucets, you can really save yourself some money each month.