How to Save Money on Your Water Bill

Trying to find ways to save money? While there are tons of options, from buying store-brand groceries to driving less, one simple option is to reduce your water bill. Not sure how to do that? We’ve got you covered with some simple, easy-to-implement tips.

Use a pitcher for drinking water.

If you usually get water from the sink, consider using a pitcher, instead. Most of us run the water until it gets cool before filling our glasses, and that means sending plenty of water down the drain first. By keeping a chilled pitcher in the fridge, you can reduce your water use and your bill.

Consider taking shorter showers.

How long does it take you to shower? For many Americans, it’s around 10 minutes, but did you know that you can wash thoroughly in just seven minutes? The average showerhead in the US uses two and a half gallons of water per minute, so cutting your shower from 10 minutes to seven minutes can save seven and a half gallons. Now add that up over an entire month and you’ll see some significant savings.

Don’t use your garbage disposal.

Garbage disposals are marketed as handy devices that can help make kitchen cleanup easier. However, they’re also huge wastes of water because you must run water while you grind up those food scraps. Scrape your plates into the garbage (or consider composting) and ignore the garbage disposal.

Don’t handwash your dishes.

This tip probably sounds pretty counterintuitive. That’s because most of us remember when the dishwasher used a ton of water. Today’s models are super-efficient and may use just five or six gallons during an entire cycle. In contrast, your sink faucet releases around two gallons of water per minute. If it takes you just 10 minutes to clean up after a meal, that’s 20 gallons of water down the drain. 

Skip small loans of laundry.

Even if you set your washing machine to the small load setting, you’re still using a lot of water. Instead, wait until you have a full load (but don’t overload the machine). That can save you a great deal of water and money over a month.

There you have them – simple, easy-to-use tips that will help you save money on your water bill. And if you find that you have leaks or a plumbing problem, have one of the professionals here at Elk Grove Village Sewer & Plumbing handle it.