80+ Tips on How to Save Money on Water

There are so many uses of water in our households, and there are as many ways to save money on its use. We usually take using water for granted, until we see the water bill. Specific tips on how to save water can save you small amounts of money, but taken together, it adds up. On the other hand, there are specific tips that, when followed and becomes a habit, helps you create a frugal living mindset that can actually save you a significant amount of money.

Start looking at problems that involve plumbing and your faucets, then see if you can optimize your water use in your toilet, bath, as well as in your garden:

Plumbing & Faucets

Monitor your water bill for unusually high use. Your bill and water meter are tools that can help you discover leaks.
Check to make sure none of the faucets and spigots in your household are leaking or dripping. A slow dripping faucet can accumulate over two gallons per hour. Grab a wrench and repair leaky faucets promptly.
Don’t just check for indoor leaks. Check outdoor faucets, sprinklers and hoses for leaks too.
Know where your master water shut-off valve is located. This could save water and prevent damage to your home.
Teach your children to turn off faucets tightly after each use.
Make sure there are water-saving aerators on all of your faucets.

Toilet

Simulate a Low Flush Toilet. If you don’t have a new, water-saver toilet, you can simulate one by putting a clean brick, or a sealed plastic bottle filled with pebbles, or a weighted mason jar, into your toilet tank.
Upgrade older toilets with water efficient models. Buy one with a dual flush.
Put food coloring in your toilet tank. Let it set for 15 to 30 minutes without flushing. If the water containing food coloring seeps into the bowl, you have a leak. Fixing it can save up to 1,000 gallons a month.
If your toilet flapper doesn’t close after flushing, replace it.

Bath & Showers

When running a bath, plug the tub before turning the water on, then adjust the temperature as the tub fills up.
Bathe your young children together.
Take more showers than baths since you consume a lot less water when showering compared to taking a bath.
Install a low-flow shower head especially if you enjoy taking long showers. Most of them operate by aerating water. Install an aerating low faucet too.
Turn off the water while you wash your hair to save up to 150 gallons a month.
Shorten your shower by a minute or two and you’ll save up to 150 gallons per month.
Turn off the water while you shave and save up to 300 gallons a month.
When you are washing your hands, don’t let the water run while you lather.

Dishwasher

Only run your dishwasher when full. Unless you have a newer dishwasher with a half-wash option, you use the same amount of water no matter how many dishes you put in.
If your dishwasher is new, cut back on rinsing. Newer models clean more thoroughly than older ones.
When washing dishes by hand, don’t let the water run while rinsing. Fill one sink with wash water and the other with rinse water.
Soak pots and pans instead of letting the water run while you scrape them clean.
Scrape, don’t rinse, off large food pieces and bones. Soaking or prewashing is generally only recommended in cases of burned-on or dried-on food.
Be sure your dishwasher is full, but not overloaded, when you run it.
Avoid using the “rinse hold” on your machine for just a few soiled dishes. It uses 3 to 7 gallons of hot water each time you use it.
Designate one glass for your drinking water each day or refill a water bottle. This will cut down on the number of glasses to wash.
Install an instant water heater near your kitchen sink so you don’t have to run the water while it heats up. This also reduces energy costs.

Plants and Gardening

Plant in the fall when conditions are cooler and rainfall is more plentiful.
Consult with your local nursery for information on plant selection and placement for optimum outdoor water savings.
Consider planting Zoysia grass which requires less water and chemicals and hardly needs to be cut, thus reducing power cost of mowing the lawn.
If installing a lawn, select a turf mix or blend that matches your climate and site conditions.
Spreading a layer of organic mulch around plants retains moisture and saves water, time and money. It also minimizes weed growth that competes for water.
Plant with finished compost to add water-holding and nutrient-rich organic matter to the soil.
Water only when necessary. More plants die from over-watering than from under-watering.
Apply water only as fast as the soil can absorb it.
Adjust your watering schedule each month to match seasonal weather conditions and landscape requirements.
Group plants with the same watering needs together to avoid overwatering some while underwatering others.
If water runs off your lawn easily, split your watering time into shorter periods to allow for better absorption.
Reduce the amount of lawn in your yard by planting shrubs and ground covers appropriate to your site and region.
Choose shrubs and groundcovers instead of turf for hard-to-water areas such as steep slopes and isolated strips.
Water your lawn and garden in the morning or evening when temperatures are cooler to minimize evaporation. Never water in direct sunlight.
Only water your lawn every three to five days during the summer.
Adjust your lawn mower to a higher setting. A taller lawn shades roots and holds soil moisture better than if it is closely clipped.
You do not have to follow a set watering schedule. Check the root zone of your lawn or garden for moisture before watering using a spade or trowel. If it’s still moist two inches under the soil surface, you still have enough water.
Use a rain gauge, or empty tuna can, to track rainfall on your lawn. Then reduce your watering accordingly.
Water your plants deeply but less frequently to encourage deep root growth and drought tolerance.
To decrease water from being wasted on sloping lawns, apply water for five minutes and then repeat two to three times.
Adjust sprinklers so only your lawn is watered and not the house, sidewalk, or street.
Use sprinklers for large areas of grass. Water small patches by hand to avoid waste.
Use sprinklers that deliver big drops of water close to the ground. Smaller water drops and mist often evaporate before they hit the ground.
Don’t water your lawn on windy days when most of the water blows away or evaporates.
Set a kitchen timer when watering your lawn or garden to remind you when to stop. A running hose can discharge up to 10 gallons a minute OR
Install timers on sprinklers so they turn on and shut off at a set time or after a set amount of water has been dispensed.
Learn how to shut off your automatic watering system in case it malfunctions or when it rains unexpectedly.
Remember to check your sprinkler system valves periodically for leaks and keep the sprinkler heads in good shape.
Trickling or cascading fountains lose less water to evaporation than those spraying water into the air.
Use water-efficient drip irrigation for shrubs, flowerbeds and trees to apply water directly to the roots where it’s needed. This use 30% to 50% less water than conventional watering methods.
Install a rain sensor on your irrigation controller so your system won’t run when it’s raining.
Direct water from rain gutters and HVAC systems toward water-loving plants in the landscape for automatic water savings.
Set up rain barrels to use an alternative source for watering your garden or flowerbeds in rain-free days.
When the kids want to cool off, use the sprinkler in an area where your lawn needs it the most.
Keep a bucket in the shower to catch water as it warms up or runs. Use this water to flush toilets or water plants.
Collect the water you use for rinsing fruits and vegetables, then reuse it to water houseplants.
Use old drinking water from your dog, cat, etc. to water plants.
When cleaning out fish tanks, give the nutrient-rich water to your plants.
Wash your pets outdoors in an area of your lawn that needs water.
Have your plumber re-route your gray water to trees and gardens rather than letting it run into the sewer line. Check with your city codes, and if it isn’t allowed in your area, start a movement to get that changed.
Build walkways and patios to provide space that doesn’t ever need to be watered. These useful “rooms” can also add value to your property.
Leave lower branches on trees and shrubs and allow leaf litter to accumulate on the soil. This keeps the soil cooler and reduces evaporation.
Let your lawn go dormant during the summer. Dormant grass only needs to be watered every three weeks or less if it rains.
Aerate your lawn at least once a year so water can reach the roots rather than run off the surface.
For hanging baskets, planters and pots, place ice cubes under the moss or dirt to give your plants a cool drink of water and help eliminate water overflow.

Pools & Spas

Install covers on pools and spas and check for leaks around your pumps.
If you have an automatic refilling device, check your pool periodically for leaks.
Use a grease pencil to mark the water level of your pool at the skimmer. Check the mark 24 hours later to see if you have a leak.
Make sure your swimming pools, fountains, and ponds are equipped with recirculating pumps.
When backflushing your pool, consider using the water on your landscaping.

Miscellaneous Water-Saving Tips

Turn off the water while brushing your teeth and save 25 gallons a month.
Use a broom instead of a hose to clean your driveway and sidewalk.
Wash your fruits and vegetables in a pan of water instead of running water from the tap.
Don’t use running water to thaw food. Defrost food in the refrigerator for water efficiency and food safety.
Use the garbage disposal sparingly. They require a lot of water to operate properly. Compost vegetable food waste instead and save gallons every time while being environment-friendly.
Winterize outdoor spigots when temperatures dip below freezing to prevent pipes from leaking or bursting.
When doing laundry, match the water level to the size of the load.
Washing dark clothes in cold water saves both on water and energy while it helps your clothes to keep their colors.
Avoid recreational water toys that require a constant flow of water.