10 Smart, Easy Ways to Save Money on Your Water Bill

With today’s high prices, every penny saved counts. And saving money is becoming a higher priority in households across the nation. Since July 2008, the City of Durham has been implementing a new tiered water rate system that encourages residents to efficiently use water. With the new rate structure, the less water you use, the lower your rate, the more money you save for everyday needs, and the better we protect Durham.

In 2007, the state of North Carolina experienced severe drought conditions, which affected households and businesses throughout the area. City officials enacted water restrictions to help conserve and preserve Durham’s water supplies. Residents could not fill swimming pools, wash cars, or water their lawns until early spring. Since April, outdoor watering has been allowed two times a week. Recently, customers have been allowed to obtain 30-day licenses for landscaping projects delayed due to the drought.

With the new tiered water rate system, using water wisely is one of the easiest ways to save money. To save thousands of gallons of water, follow these TOP 10 TIPS:

1. Turn off the water while brushing your teeth and save 4 gallons a minute. That’s 200 gallons a week for a family of four.

2. Time your shower to keep it under 5 minutes and save 1,000 gallons each month. By turning off the water while you shampoo your hair, you can save an additional 50 gallons per week.

3. Install a water-efficient showerhead. They’re inexpensive, easy to install, and can save your family more than 500 gallons a week. Visit Durham’s City Hall to purchase a 1.5 gallon per minute water efficient showerhead.

4. Turn off the water while you shave, lather your hands or wash your face and see water savings up to 100 gallons a week.

5. Check your toilet for leaks by putting food coloring or leftover coffee in your toilet tank. If it seeps into the toilet bowl, you have a leak. Other signs that a toilet is leaking include the sound of running water and the toilet turning on and off without being flushed. You may need to replace the flapper, the handle or adjust the water level in the tank. Fixing your toilet can save more than 600 gallons a month.

6. Upgrade to a High Efficiency Toilet (HET) and receive up to $100 credit rebate on your water bill. The City of Durham is currently running a rebate promotion for HET purchases/installations made on or after January 1, 2008. Visit DurhamSavesWater.org to learn how you can qualify.

7. Use your clothes washer or dishwasher only when you have a full load and save up to 600 gallons each month.

8. Grab a wrench and fix that leaky faucet. It’s simple, inexpensive, and can save 140 gallons a week. Remind your children to turn off faucets tightly to prevent dripping.

9. If you are planting this season, choose drought-tolerant, low water use plant varieties for year-round landscape color. You can save up to 550 gallons each year. Two-thirds of household water use takes place outdoors, making the yard the best place to impact water consumption.

10. Use a hose nozzle and turn off the water while washing your car, or use a bucket of soapy water to clean and clear water to rinse. Washing your car only when needed will save you hundreds of gallons each month.

It’s time to get serious about saving water—and we can all do our part. For 111 simple, money-saving tips, including a new online bill calculator, visit http://www.durhamsaveswater.org/ today!

--Courtesy of City of Durham Department of Water Management

You can also visit us on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/durhamsaveswaternow