In 2019, the U.S. government published an alarming report: America is running out of water.
According to the report, by 2071, nearly 50% of the freshwater basins from which consumers draw water won’t be sufficient to meet their monthly demands.
The U.S. Environment Protection Agency (EPA) believes that to overcome the impending water crisis, the government will have to spend $900 billion on water investments and maintenance services.
Water scarcity and the cost of improving water supply will have an inflationary impact on your water and sewage bill.
If you don’t manage your water usage, you might have difficulty paying your water and sewage bills on time.
10 Effective Tips to Reduce Your Water and Sewer Bill
The good news is that reducing your water and sewer bill isn’t rocket science. With some planning… and a bit of spending, you can lower your water bills and save hundreds of dollars every year.
1. Have A Plumber Inspect Your Water Pipes and Toilet for Leaks
Leaky pipes waste almost 10,000 gallons of water annually, or 90 gallons daily per household. According to the EPA, fixing leaky pipes can save up to 10% on your water bill.
What are telltale signs that your home has leaky pipes?
- Water stains on the wall and floor.
- Visible signs and the musty scent of molds.
- Appearance of rotting wood and crumbling drywall.
- A higher-than-usual water bill
- Low water pressure
- Dripping sounds in the toilet and kitchen
- Uneven growth of grass in the garden
Sure, you can do it yourself, but a better option is to hire a professional plumber. Plumbers have the knowledge, experience, and tools to find and fix leaks.
Don’t worry about the expense. Leak inspections are usually scheduled once every two years. Besides, you can recover the cost of repairs from the savings on your water bill.
2. Manage Your Shower Time
Showering accounts for 17% of daily indoor water use or an estimated 40 gallons of water daily.
A study by Rent.com showed that a 12-minute shower can add $195 annually to your water bill. If you increase your shower time by four minutes, the annual cost of a daily shower jumps to $270.
You don’t have to follow Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis’s advice of not showering daily to save on your water bill.
You just have to manage your shower time.
- Do 5-minute showers.
- Turn off the shower when soaping or shampooing.
- If you’re a gym member, take a shower there before going home.
- Shower with a washcloth to remove soap faster.
Don’t play music in the shower because it’ll make you linger.
Get in, get clean, and get out.
3. Shut Off the Faucet When Not in Use
The same rule of shutting off the water when not in use applies when brushing your teeth, washing your face, or shaving.
Letting the water run for a few seconds might seem inconsequential, but collectively, it will significantly increase your water bill.
If you go to a restroom in a hotel, the airport, or a mall, the faucet has a sensor that automatically shuts off when not in use.
A 2023 study conducted by FontanaShowers showed that automatic faucets reduced water usage from 30% to 40%.
You don’t have to install a sensor in your faucet. Simple reminders to your family, especially the children, will suffice.
4. Manage Your Laundry Time
The average household does laundry five days a week. A typical washing machine uses up to 31 gallons of water per load, while older models can use 40 gallons.
- Do the laundry when you have a full load.
- Adjust the water level to the lowest usable setting.
- Use the shortest cycle to get the job done.
- Measure the amount of detergent you’ll use.
- Use cold water to rinse your laundry.
If you manage your laundry time, you can save hundreds of dollars annually on your water bill. In addition, you can lower your energy bill and cut down on detergent expenses.
5. Switch to Energy-efficient Appliances
The Energy Star program, introduced by the EPA in 1992, encourages manufacturers to design energy-efficient appliances that protect the environment and help consumers reduce their utility bills.
What Difference Can an Energy Star Appliance Make?
Compared to an old washing machine that uses up to 40 gallons of water per load, an Energy Star-certified washing machine only requires 13 gallons.
It’s estimated that switching to an Energy Star-rated washing machine can reduce your water bill by 30% and your energy bill by 20%.
Energy Star reports that energy-saving appliances can reduce your overall utility bill by $550 annually.
6. Switch to WaterSense Fixtures
The EPA launched WaterSense in 2006. The program aims to help consumers save water and lower their monthly water bills. Products that pass the EPA’s standards and receive WaterSense certification use 20% less water.
WaterSense-certified shower heads, faucets, and toilets are available. Switching to WaterSense fixtures can reduce your water bill by 20%.
According to the EPA, in 2023, the WaterSense program saved 8.7 trillion gallons of water and saved consumers an estimated $207 billion in water and energy bills.
7. Add a Rain Sensor to Your Sprinkler System
Green grass makes your garden look elegant and refreshing. It’s the perfect way to frame a bed of colorful flowers or a water display.
The rule for watering grass is that it must be covered by one inch of water. If you have a sprinkler system, it would need 30 minutes to submerge grass in one inch of water.
A study by Tools Advisor estimated that an average residential sprinkler system uses up to 1,000 gallons of water per hour. A 30-minute sprinkler session might use up to 500 gallons of water.
On average, a lawn needs to be watered twice a week, especially during the summer months.
One way to reduce the water usage of your sprinkler system is to add a Rain Sensor that prevents it from opening automatically when it starts to rain. The savings on your water bill will depend on the annual rainfall your region gets.
Considering a sprinkler system uses a thousand gallons of water per run, you’ll save hundreds of dollars annually with a Rain Sensor.
8. Adopt Water-saving Dishwashing Practices
In 2012, the Department of Energy, under the Obama administration, set the efficiency standards for standard-sized dishwashers at 5 gallons of water per cycle.
Energy Star-certified standard-sized dishwashers only use 3.2 gallons per cycle.
Thus, contrary to what you might have heard, a dishwasher doesn’t consume much water.
What about the belief that hand washing saves more water?
Hand Washing dishes consumes nine to 27 gallons of water.
“I don’t have a dishwasher. What should I do?”
If you have a two-compartment sink, fill one bin with warm, soapy water. Submerge the dirty dishes in the soapy water, then remove the food debris and sauces by hand.
Transfer the dishes to the other bin and clean them with a soapy sponge. Use the faucet only when you’re rinsing, and turn off the faucet when not in use.
9. Keep Your Pool Covered
Evaporation can decrease the level of swimming pool water. Once the level drops, you’ll have to fill it up again. Keep the pool covered when no one is using it. This is especially important during the hot summer months.
10. Water Your Lawn in the Morning
Evaporation is also a factor to consider when watering your lawn.
The best time to water your lawn is early morning, around 9:00 am, when the sun isn’t as hot.
If you water in the early afternoon, the sun will be at its brightest and hottest. When temperatures are hotter, evaporation is greater.
It will take longer to keep the grass submerged in one inch of water, and you’ll end up using more water to properly hydrate the roots.
Utility companies calculate your water bill by measuring the volume of water entering your property and the volume of wastewater going to the sewage system.
The cost of sewer usage can be higher than water usage because wastewater undergoes extensive treatment.
Environmental regulations can change and require facilities to utilize more sophisticated methods to treat wastewater. Complying with environmental regulations might require changes in how sewer pipes are designed, built, and installed underground.
The expenses are passed on to the consumer to recover the improvement costs.
You can reduce your sewer bill by following our ten tips for lowering water usage. The less water you use, the less wastewater undergoes treatment.
How Bad is America’s Water Crisis?
In 2020, Consumer Reports published the results of a study conducted by Guardian US on America’s water crisis.
The study revealed that from 2010 to 2018, water and sewage bills in 12 cities increased by 80%. Two-fifths of the residents were living in cities with unaffordable water bills. For many cities, a 4% increase in water bills makes them unaffordable.
A 2023 study conducted by the New York Times showed nearly 90% of the groundwater sites that supply America’s water systems were severely depleted.
The Water Sector Coordinating Council (WSCC) and the Water Government Coordinating Council (WGCC), with the support of stakeholders in the water and wastewater that include the EPA and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), developed the Roadmap to a Secure and Resilient Water and Wastewater Sector in 2024.
The objective of the Roadmap is to improve consumers’ accessibility to clean water by addressing the threats to water supply.
The bigger picture is that we have a global water crisis. UNESCO estimates that up to three billion people worldwide experience water shortages.
What Factors Are Affecting Water Supply?
The decrease in water supply can be attributed to four factors.
Overpopulation
Currently, the United States has more than 341 million people. According to National Public Radio (NPR), America’s population in 2024 is growing by one person every 24 seconds.
Globally, there are 8.1 billion people. The world’s population is growing at an annual rate of 0.91%.
Climate Change
Climate change has impacted precipitation. Wet regions are getting more rainfall, while dry regions are experiencing a higher incidence of drought.
Snow-capped mountains where melted snow flows into rivers dry up faster and result in water shortages in the summertime.
With less rainfall, temperatures are expected to climb higher, increase evaporation, and further deplete rivers and other water sources.
Increased Demand for Water
According to the EPA, the average household uses 300 gallons of water daily.
A rapidly growing population, increased water demand, and the continued depletion of water sources will create a situation where consumers can no longer afford to pay their water bills.
Thus, even if inflation has stabilized in 2024, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for water and sewer services continues to rise.
Pollution
Pollutants have contaminated the water supply in certain regions.
The issues of cleaning up and sanitizing community water systems and investing in improved water infrastructure were highlighted in the EPA’s National Water Program Guidance for FY 2023-2024.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Average Water and Sewer Bill in Texas?
The average water and sewer bill in Texas is $37 monthly.
How much is water in Atlanta?
In Atlanta, there’s a base charge of $6.56, and then the cost of water is structured in tiers.
- Tier 1: $2.58 per 750 gallons
- Tier 2: $5.34 per 750 gallons
- Tier 3: $6.16 per 750 gallons
Related Articles: 5 Reasons Why Using a Budget is Beneficial
Summary
Hire a professional plumber to inspect your water pipes, toilet, and fixtures for leaks. If your appliances have outlived Bruce Lee, it’s time to retire them and buy more efficient, energy-saving models.
You can recover your expenses from the money you save on your water and energy bills.
Lastly, be mindful of how you use water in the house.
Reduce your shower time to five minutes daily, and do your laundry only when you have a full load. Running water is wasted water. Shut off the faucets when not in use.
The world is in a water crisis.
If we’re not careful, the popular quote from “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner” might come true.
“Water, water everywhere, and not a drop to drink.”
