How Water Conservation Can Save You Money

Water shortages have been plaguing the country for years. In fact, officials in 40 of the 50 states anticipate water shortages in at least a portion of their states within the next 10 years, and 18 states currently face droughts, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. Despite these dire warnings, the average American uses an average of 100 gallons of water a day at home unnecessarily.

With numbers like this, water shortages will only continue to worsen. And that's not just bad news for planet Earth—it's also emptying Americans' wallets. Shockingly, the average household forks over as much as $500 annually on their water and sewer bills. With the use of water-efficient fixtures and appliances, however, that number can drop by as much as $170 per year.

By making just a few easy changes, you can both conserve water and drastically reduce your home’s water bill over time. For instance, by using a low-flow showerhead during a 10-minute shower, you can save 15 gallons of water. Simply reducing your shower time can slash water use and bills, as well.

As much as 22% of indoor home water use comes just from doing laundry, so by adjusting the settings on your washing machine to the appropriate load size, you can save a significant amount of water.

If your bill seems unusually high, it’s important to check for leaks. Something as innocuous as a dripping faucet can actually waste as much as 15 gallons a day, and a toilet leak can result in a loss as high as 100 gallons a week! By putting a few drops of food coloring into the tank of your toilet, you can detect whether or not you have a leak that needs to be fixed. If there's color in the bowl about a half hour later, you've got a leak. Check for drips or stains underneath your dishwasher and clothes washer as well. Check out this video for tips on how to fix common plumbing problems in your home that could be costing you money and wasting water. Also, be sure to check back to the Home Matters blog for more useful tips on saving water and money in your home.