Water Saving Tips

Published on June 30, 2021

Simple habits could help save you money in the long run – check on the places in your household that use water; evaluate when to switch to more water efficient appliances, faucets, and toilets; and, do regular checks of your outside water hook up.

Switch To Water Efficient Appliances

Broken or poorly functioning dish washers, washing machines, and other water using appliances may be using more water than they should leading to higher water bills. Making the switch to a more water efficient appliance can be an investment in the short-term but will lead to long-term savings on your monthly water bill. Consider having your appliances serviced to see if they are working properly. If you are in the market for more efficient appliances, watch for sales, rebates, and other cost off-sets that can lower your investment.

Switch To Water Efficient Faucets

Sixty leaky drips per minute from a faucet can waste up to 259 gallons per day, 3,153 gallons per year.¹ A faucet leaking 259 gallons per day would result in an extra $7.13 per day reflected on your utility bill. Shower heads can also fall into this category. Double check that you have turned the water all the way off when you are done at the kitchen and bathroom sinks or taking a bath or shower.

Switch To Water Efficient Toilet

The average leaky toilet can waste about 200 gallons of water per day, over 6,000 gallons per month².  A leaky toilet wasting 200 gallons of water per day will add $5.51 per day to your monthly utility bill. There are many reasons why toilets are often the biggest culprit for high water usage. Some causes include constantly flowing water due to the flapper sticks, the chain is caught, or parts are worn out inside the tank. Unfortunately, if your toilet is leaking it is hard to know until you receive your monthly bill. If your water bill is high and you are not noticing any other leaks, consider checking out your toilet. If your self-check is not giving you answers, try giving your plumber a call. Plumbers can detect if there is a leak and can better direct you from that point.

Check The Outside Water Hookup

Average households turn their outside water off in the winter and back on in the summer. Whether you are filling up your pool, watering roses, or just playing in the hose, try to make it a habit to check the outside water hook up for excessive usage. With the hook up being outside, you may not notice if the hook up is completely off or if there is a leak.

If you are experiencing an issue with your water bill, the best way to resolve it is to contact the City directly. City staff is happy to look into your account. We hope these few tips and tricks can assist you in keeping your water bill down.

¹ Where Does All That Water Go?

² i.e.