Why is it important to limit your water use at home? Clean water is a resource that is often taken for granted, but it is common for certain areas around the country and the world to experience water shortages. Besides the environmental reasons, you will also notice a decrease in your utility bill if you use less water. Implement some or all of these tips to save water and money at home.
Tips to Save Water and Money at Home
In the Bathroom
- Place a bucket in the shower to capture the water from your bathing. Place it as soon as you turn on the water. Use the bucket’s contents to water your plants.
- Replace your old showerhead with a low-flow WaterSense model.
- Shorten your showers, even by a few minutes. Setting a timer will help you get into the habit.
- When brushing your teeth, wet your toothbrush, then turn off the water faucet while you brush your teeth. You’ll save 2.5 gallons a minute. Don’t turn it back on until you are ready to rinse.
- When washing your hands, turn off the tap after wetting your hands and turn the tap back on when you’re ready to rinse.
- Trick your toilet into thinking it’s a low-flow model by placing a full half gallon water jug in the tank. It will cause the tank to use less water yet still flush effectively
- Proactively look for plumbing leaks in bathrooms and the kitchen. If you find wet spots or water stains in cabinets under sinks, get them fixed right away to save water and money
In the Kitchen
- Water your plants with the leftover water from cooking pasta.
- Install more efficient appliances like an ENERGY STAR® dishwasher. You’ll save water, energy, and money over the long-term.
- Only run the dishwasher with a full load of dishes.
- If you don’t have a dishwasher, fill the sink, then turn off the faucet when hand-washing dishes instead of keeping the water running the whole time.
In the Yard
- Re-landscape the lawn so it’s xeriscaped. You’ll save money by using drought hardy plants, succulents, and rock formations.
- Instead of washing your car at home, take it to a nearby car wash. Commercial car washes have the infrastructure to save and recycle water and dispose of it responsibly.
- Capture rainwater with a barrel. You can hook up the barrel to your lawn sprinkler for irrigating your lawn.
- Water outdoor plants early in the morning when cooler temperatures help minimize water evaporation.
- Use a pool cover to reduce evaporation and help a heated pool retain its temperature. According to the Department of Energy, a pool cover reduces needed water replacement amounts by 30 to 50 percent.
Saving water helps you save money. You don’t need to implement every tip here, but the more you do, the more water and money you will save.
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