How to Save Money on Your Water Bill
When I opened my water bill this month, my jaw dropped and my eyes nearly popped out of my head. Over $400 for two months of service. Ouch!
My next step was to review my water bill, then figure out how to reduce water usage to save money. If you’re looking to cut down on your water bill too, read through the rest of this article for tips.
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Background
My husband and I moved into our new home a few months ago. We previously lived in a place where the water was covered, so we never saw the bill. I hadn’t seen a water bill in years as it had always been included wherever I was renting.
But I’ve always been conscious of my water use. California was in a drought when I was growing up. My parents and teachers drilled into us to turn off the faucet when brushing our teeth, take shorter showers and small baths, and safe excess water for the plants.
My friends and I joked that if it’s yellow, let it mellow. If it’s brown, flush it down.
So imagine my surprise when a $400+ bill came in the mail this month.
The Water Bill
To be fair, the bill covered water usage, sewer usage, and garbage/recycling services for two months. That broke down to (per month)
Water: $100.20
Sewer: $124.97
Garbage/recycling/compost: $31.42
When you look at those numbers, it’s not as bad, but I knew we could do better.
Check the Bill
The first thing to do is to check your bill for accuracy. If you find any errors, you may be able to get a refund or adjustment to your future bills.
1 | Speak to an official employee
I didn’t understand my bill fully at first glance. I researched online the parts of my bill. I learned that we used 6 units of water in two months. A unit is 100 cubic feet of water or 748 gallons.
I spoke to a city worker and had my bill explained to me. It turned out that part of my bill was based on averages from the previous residents of my house. The had a family of four while there’s just two of us, so of course their average usage and the bill would be higher.
2 | Ask for a bill adjustment
I asked the city worker for a refund. She said it wasn’t possible, but that they would average our usage over the next few months and adjust our rate at that time. We may quality for a bill adjustment, where they’d credit us back the overcharges.
3 | Low-income assistance
Many cities offer help paying bills if you meet the criteria for low-income assistance. This is especially helpful for retirees and others on fixed income.
The income limits vary depending on your city and the size of your household. It’s worth spending a few minutes to see if you qualify. The payoff is hundreds of dollars in savings every year.
How to Use Less Water
Let’s say that you’ve tried all of the above, and the water bill is still too high. These are some simple ways to reduce your water usage.
1 | Check for leaks
Leaks are one of the most common causes of high water bills. I found that we had a small slow leak in the shower soon after moving into our house.
The shower needed a new valve, which fixed the problem and put my mind at ease. Check for any leaks in your house and get them fixed ASAP.
2) Take shorter showers
As nice as it feels to bask in a hot shower, it’s even nice to have a lower water bill. Make your showers quick and efficient.
Turn off the water when you’re soaping up and scrubbing your hair. If you tend to brush your teeth in the shower, do it at the sink instead with the water turned off.
I joked with my husband that he needs to take showers less frequently. People don’t sweat as much in the cold winter months, so they don’t need as much washing. But I only kid. Keep up the hygiene!
3 | Grow low-water plants
If you have a large front or backyard with grass and plants, you might be spending a lot on irrigation. Look to replace some high-water plants with drought-resistant or low-water ones. They’ll keep growing despite less water and attention.
You might want to consider more drastic changes such as removing your lawn altogether. Check if your city offers a rebate for replacing your lawn with drought-resistant landscape.
4 | Collect excess water
Any time you have the water run waiting for it to heat up or cool down, collect it for an alternative use. Your shower or kitchen faucet may require some time to water to get hot.
Save the clean cold water for cooking, washing vegetables or dishes, even throwing out in the garden for the plants. If you want to save even more, collect rainwater and use it for irrigation.
5 | Do full loads
Whether it’s dishes or the clothes, load your dishwasher and washing machine fully before running them. Skip running an extra round of rinsing before or after a load unless it’s absolutely necessary.
Usually dried food comes off plates with soaking. The same is true with clothing. Heavily soiled or stained clothing should be treated and soaked prior to being placed in the washing machine.
If you can, do less loads of laundry and dishes. Use dishes more than once during a meal instead of getting a new plate for each serving. Wear your clothes one more time if they’re still clean. Washing them less will reduce your laundry load and help your clothes last longer.
6 | Buy water (and energy) efficient appliances
The upfront cost of new appliances is several hundred dollars. But if you’re due for a new dishwasher or washing machine, look for ones that use less water. They will have the WaterSense label indicating that it’s water-efficient.
There are WaterSense toilets, faucets, and shower heads as well, so it’s not limited to only the large items. Some places like California provide rebates for installing water-efficient toilets.
7 | Get the cheapest plan
Our bill included garbage and recycling service, so I’ll mention another tip to cut that cost. Find out if your garbage company offers any cheaper plans.
I learned that we had a standard size garbage bin. We didn’t fill it every week, so I asked for a smaller bin, thereby saving us a few dollars a month.
While saving a few dollars doesn’t sound like much, the dollars add up. I don’t expect that we’ll be paying over $400+ bills in the future after lowering our service fees and putting these water-usage tips into place.
If you’re trying to do the same, pat yourself on the back because you’re saving money and making a positive environmental impact.
What are some of your favorite ways to save water and reduce your water bill?
