November 28, 2023   Written by Jonathan Jacobs   

Water conservation is all about taking good care of our precious water supply. Water is vital for all life on Earth, including plants and animals, and it plays a crucial role in farming and keeping our crops healthy.

But, let’s be honest, water isn’t exactly cheap. It might not seem like a big deal when you’re using a little here and there, but trust us, it can really put a dent in your wallet, especially during those scorching summer months.

Water and sewer bills, which usually come together, have gone up by about 50 percent in the last ten years, according to some smart folks at Bluefield Research. And guess what? They’re not planning on stopping there. The cost can change depending on where you live, but on average, people were shelling out about $49 every month for water across the country last year, which is quite a jump from $32 back in 2012. 

That’s why it’s really important for us to find ways to use water wisely, not only keep water treatment costs in check but also to contribute to the protection of the environment. Let’s explore some easy ways to conserve water, and once you’ve got a handle on how much water you use each day at home, let’s dive into some super helpful tips to cut down on your water usage and effectively cut your costs.

Understanding Your Water Usage at Home

Water is an essential part of our daily lives, and understanding how we use it can help us make more informed choices. This section will guide you through the process of assessing your water consumption at home, helping you become a more mindful water user.

Review your water bills

A simple method for gauging your personal water consumption is by examining your water bill. Don’t just focus on the payment amount, though; pay attention to the actual water usage.

Many utility companies offer a detailed breakdown of your charges in the “billing detail” or “summary of charges” section. 

It’s important to be aware that some utilities measure both the water coming into your house and the wastewater leaving through the sewer. However, many utilities use a single meter on your property and calculate charges based on the water entering your house.

Check for leaks

Unusual dripping sounds can indicate hidden leaks in your plumbing. Taking on the role of an investigator, you can locate and fix these leaks, which not only saves water but also preserves your financial resources. The average household actually loses a whopping 10,000 gallons of water due to sneaky leaks every year. If we round that up, that’s over 25 gallons down the drain daily! And get this, about one in ten homes suffers from even bigger leaks that waste up to a staggering 90 gallons a day!

So, if you’re wondering how to locate and fix these water leaks in your home, here’s a simple way to do it:

• Conduct a visual inspection: Start by visually inspecting your faucets, pipes, and fixtures. Look for any signs of dripping or pooling water. Sometimes, it’s as simple as a loose faucet or a worn-out washer causing the problem.

• Check Your Water Meter: To confirm your suspicion of a leak, closely monitoring your home’s water meter can provide a clear answer. Turn off all water-using appliances and ensure no one is using water in the house. Check the meter. If it’s still running, you likely have a leak somewhere. The EPA has a nifty checklist to help you get to the bottom of it and patch things up at the source.
• Food Coloring Test: Place approximately 4 to 5 drops of food coloring into the toilet tank, opting for a darker color like blue or red for better visibility. Allow 20 to 30 minutes to pass – do not flush, and then inspect the toilet bowl. If you notice the colored water appearing in the bowl within 15 minutes, it indicates a leak in the flapper valve. 
• Check Outdoor Spigots: Don’t forget to inspect outdoor spigots for leaks. Start by fully covering the spigot with your hand, then proceed to turn on the water. If the water pressure is too strong for you to maintain a grip, your spigot is likely in good condition. However, if you can hold back the water with your hand, it may suggest there’s a crack in the pipes, which could lead to water leaking from somewhere.

Monitor your household’s water consumption

Record water consumption periodically (daily, weekly, monthly) to identify any irregular patterns. Keeping track of your household’s water consumption is key to understanding your family’s water habits and finding ways to cut back. 

This data not only helps you reduce your overall water usage but also keeps your utility bills in check while preventing one of the major water-wasting culprits in most homes – leaks. You can achieve this by using water monitoring devices or estimating individual consumption.

7 Water-Saving Strategies for Indoors

When it comes to indoor water usage, it remains relatively consistent throughout the year. The silver lining here is that a handful of water-saving practices can go a long way toward cutting down on your indoor water consumption. Making a few simple adjustments around your house can make a significant difference in reducing your overall water usage.

1. Optimize Appliance Use

Frequently, the urge to keep our dishes and clothes spotless leads to a significant water expenditure. Rather than washing dishes and laundry multiple times throughout the day or week, consider waiting until you have a full load of both to conserve water.

For top-loading clothes washers, fine-tune the load size settings to avoid unnecessary water usage. In the case of front-loaders, hold off until you’ve got a full load before hitting that start button. These machines use a consistent amount of water for every load, so running them half-empty doesn’t make sense.

Waiting to run your washing machine until you have a full load is a smart move. It saves water, energy, and money. Also, you can use less water by setting your washing machine and dishwasher to a lower water level.

Your dishwasher follows the same principles. It’s more water-efficient than hand washing, but only when it’s packed to the brim. Skip the pre-rinse ritual – it’s usually a water-wasting exercise and doesn’t necessarily result in cleaner dishes.

2. Reuse and Recycle

When it comes to this tip, let your imagination flow. Rather than letting water go to waste, think of clever ways to reuse it. 

For instance, don’t toss out water used for washing veggies or boiling pasta; give your houseplants a drink instead. You can also collect rainwater in barrels and use it to nourish your lawn and plants.

3. Shut the Tap and Dial Down the Flow

Leaving the faucet running while you brush your teeth, shave, or soap up in the shower can add up to a considerable amount of water squander every day. Turning off the tap when it’s not in use is a simple yet effective way to cut back on your water consumption. When the water does need to flow, consider installing an aerator to reduce its intensity. This straightforward change helps conserve water, which translates to lower monthly water bills.

4. Shorten Shower Time

Reducing water consumption can be as simple as turning off the shower while you lather up and then switching it back on for rinsing. A typical four-minute shower hogs up about 20 to 40 gallons of water. If you want an easy solution, you can grab a basic shower timer from your local water utility or hardware store. 

For even more efficiency, think about adjusting your showerhead. Installing a low-flow showerhead can slash water usage by up to 50%, not only aiding your water conservation goals but also trimming your water bills.

5. Update Your Kitchen Sink

Much like your bathroom sink, your first step in conserving water in the kitchen should be installing a faucet aerator if you haven’t already. If you’re considering a dishwasher replacement, go for a high-efficiency model designed to use significantly less water for dishwashing.

When it comes to hand-washing dishes, make it a practice to fill the sink with the necessary water rather than leaving the tap running continuously during the washing and rinsing process. You might be surprised at how much water you save by avoiding this habit. 

6. Switch to “Economy” Setting

When it comes to your washing machine or dishwasher, consider going eco-friendly by selecting the “Economy” setting. Surprisingly, it offers a cleaning performance that’s on par with the heavy-duty option but with a significantly smaller water footprint. It’s a win-win scenario, saving both money and water.

7. Fix Any Existing Leaks

To test for toilet leaks, place a few drops of food coloring in the tank and refrain from flushing for 10 minutes. If any color appears in the toilet bowl during this time, it signifies a leak. Fixing these leaks can be as straightforward as changing a washer, applying some pipe tape, or replacing a worn toilet valve seal.

Detecting leaks in your plumbing system elsewhere can be a bit more challenging. One method involves monitoring your water meter. After refraining from using any water for two hours, check the meter once more. If the numbers have changed, it’s likely that a leak is present. In such cases, it’s advisable to seek professional assistance from a plumber to locate and rectify the issue.

5 Water-Saving Strategies for Outdoors

Activities like car washing, lawn sprinkling, garden watering, and even maintaining pools, regardless of their size, tend to be heavy on water consumption. What’s more, the sun’s heat can lead to water loss through evaporation. Considering that 30% of household water usage occurs outdoors, If you’re looking to cut down on your outdoor water consumption and also on your water bill, here’s how to do it effectively:

1. Smart Lawn Watering

For a more water-efficient outdoor routine, try watering your lawn or garden during the cooler morning or evening hours. If you’re looking to step up your water-saving game, explore sustainable gardening methods that use less water. 

And, when it comes to your lawn, raise your mower blade to 2 to 4 inches and let the clippings stay on the grass instead of gathering them; this helps cut down on water lost through evaporation.

2. Install Rain Barrels

Another eco-friendly approach to curbing outdoor water consumption is the installation of rain barrels. By connecting a barrel to a downspout from your roof, you can harvest rainwater for future use. It’s worth noting that rainwater can pick up contaminants from your roof, making it unsuitable for drinking. However, it serves well for lawn and ornamental plant irrigation or car washing.

Rainwater harvesting is a cost-effective endeavor that only requires the installation of the appropriate tools. The quantity of water you save directly correlates with the volume you collect. This collected rainwater can serve multiple purposes, including household cleaning, laundry, dishwashing, and irrigation for your garden. With the implementation of proper hygiene measures, it can also be used for cooking and drinking, making it a versatile and sustainable resource.

3. Avoid Leaving the Hose Running

Avoid letting the hose run while washing your car. Opt for a bucket of soapy water instead for the initial cleaning, reserving the hose solely for rinsing. By following this simple practice, you can conserve up to 100 gallons of water during a car wash. 

For a more water-efficient rinse, consider using a spray nozzle. Even better, explore the waterless car washing systems available on the market.

4. Reduce Pool Water Evaporation by Using Pool Covers

To mitigate water loss due to evaporation, cover your swimming pool when not in use. Swimming pools can lose about an inch or more of water weekly through evaporation, with factors such as temperature, humidity, wind, and pool placement influencing the rate of water loss. Investing in a pool cover can save thousands of gallons of water each season.

Moreover, this practice contributes to maintaining a cleaner pool and reduces the necessity for chemical additives, resulting in a conservation of 1,000 gallons per month.

5. Regularly Check for Leaks in Pipes, Hoses, Faucets, and Couplings

Leaks occurring outside the house may not be as noticeable, but they are equally wasteful as indoor leaks. Regularly inspect these areas to prevent any unwanted drips. Consider using hose washers at spigots and hose connections to eliminate potential leaks.

Teaching Children about Water Conservation

Generally, it’s easier to prevent bad habits and teach good water-saving practices to young people. As adults, we should lead by example and explain the problems of excessive water use to our children.

The great news is that there are numerous effective strategies you can employ to help your kids grasp the significance of water preservation.

• Opt for Water-Efficient Play: Choose toys that don’t require a continuous flow of water. Instead, encourage the use of small pools, sports-related gear, or remote-controlled gadgets for outdoor water-based enjoyment.
• Mindful Hand Washing: While your kids are soaping up, advise them to turn off the sink to save water during hand washing.
• Responsible Toilet Use: Encourage your children not to flush tissues or other items down the toilet. Not only is it wasteful, but it can also lead to plumbing issues. Provide a wastebasket for tissues and other items they might be tempted to flush.
• Reuse Aquarium Water: If your children have a pet fish, reuse the water from the tank as a nutrient source for your houseplants instead of discarding it.
• Combine Dog Bathing with Lawn Care: When washing your dog(s), do so in an area of the yard that needs watering, effectively multitasking. Ensure the soap you use is safe for your plants.
• Implement Good Faucet Habits: Teach your kids to firmly close the faucets to prevent drips and unnecessary water waste.
• Garden Hose Guidelines: Advise your kids against playing with the garden hose to save up to 10 gallons of water per minute.
• Synchronized Sprinkler Play: If your children want to play in the sprinklers, make sure it coincides with the yard’s watering schedule, especially during times when it’s cooler and more suitable for water use.
• Lead by Example: Children often learn by observing the behavior of adults. Practice what you preach by consistently demonstrating water-saving habits. Make sure you’re turning off taps, fixing any leaks promptly, and using water-efficient appliances. When your children see your commitment to water conservation, it can inspire them to adopt the same mindset.

7 Additional Water-Saving Techniques

In addition to the previously mentioned strategies for water conservation, there are several additional techniques that individuals and communities can employ to reduce water consumption further:

1. Xeriscaping

Landscaping makes your home look great, but it needs lots of water to stay that way. To save water, think about watering your garden less often each month or week. Also, planting native, drought-resistant grasses can help you save on your water bill.

Native plants have been doing well for a long time with little care, so they don’t need much water. When you water your garden, make sure to aim the water where it’s needed, so you don’t waste any on sidewalks or driveways.

While the cost of hiring a landscaper to revamp your yard can range from $10 to $40 per square foot, the good news is that many cities, municipalities, and water utility companies provide rebates for installing drought-resistant landscaping. These rebates can help offset some of the initial expenses, but make sure to follow all the necessary steps to qualify for these financial incentives.

2. Cooling Water Recirculation

Implementing water recycling within recirculating cooling systems can lead to substantial water savings, especially when utilizing the same water for various cooling activities. Practices like evaporative cooling, ozonation, and heat exchange are commonly used to reduce water consumption in cooling water systems.

An open recirculating cooling system employs a cyclic use of the same water for the cooling of process equipment. To facilitate water reuse, the heat acquired from the process needs to be dissipated. This is typically achieved through the utilization of cooling towers, spray ponds, and evaporative condensers.

Compared to the alternative approach known as “once-through cooling,” open recirculating cooling systems result in significant freshwater conservation. The amount of water released as waste is substantially minimized in the open recirculation process, making it a more cost-effective option for chemical treatment.

3. Explore High-Efficiency Washing Machines

The most efficient washing machines can operate using as little as seven gallons per load, a substantial improvement compared to the 54 gallons consumed by traditional washers. 

Getting a high-efficiency (HE) washer is a smart move. It’ll pay for itself over time with the money you save on water and energy. The newer Energy Star-rated washers are even better, using 35% to 50% less water and cutting energy use in half per load.

4. Opt for Adjustable Toilet Flappers

Installing an adjustable toilet flapper offers the flexibility to fine-tune water usage with each flush. Users can customize the flush rate to the minimal setting that still ensures an effective single flush every time.

5. Choose Low-Flow or Dual-Flush Models

In adherence to federal regulations, modern toilets are required to use no more than 1.6 gallons per flush. Swapping out an older toilet for an ultra-low volume (ULV) model results in a 70% reduction in water consumption, translating to a 30% reduction in indoor water usage.

Alternatively, you can consider investing in a dual-flush toilet or installing a dual-flush converter, which can transform a standard toilet into a dual-flush system. This switch can save the average family up to 15,000 gallons of water annually. 

With the dual-flush mechanism, you can use more water when necessary, but for most flushes, you’ll be conserving 70% of water, leading to substantial water savings.

6. Pipe Insulation

A simple and budget-friendly solution to consider is insulating your water pipes using pre-slit foam pipe insulation. This quick installation not only accelerates the delivery of hot water but also prevents water waste during the heating process.

7. Reduce Reliance on Kitchen Sink Garbage Disposal Units

In-sink garbage disposals, often referred to as ‘garburators,’ demand a substantial amount of water to function effectively. Furthermore, they contribute significantly to the solid waste content in septic tanks, potentially causing maintenance issues. Consider establishing a compost pile as a viable alternative for disposing of food waste.

Bottom Line

As you’ve probably noticed, the best ways to lower your water bill involve using less water and switching to efficient appliances. Simple changes like adding a faucet aerator or taking shorter showers can make you more mindful of water use, saving you money and benefiting the environment.

We should also educate others about the importance of water conservation and encourage them to find ways to reuse water, prevent evaporation, and avoid wasteful habits.

Link to Article: The Ultimate Guide on Water Conservation: How To Save Every Drop