7 Steps to a Lower Water Bill

Your water bill is one monthly obligation that you just can't eliminate. You can live without cable TV, but you can't live without water.

But you can try and cut back on the amount of water you use. Most people waste a lot more water than they realize. By conserving water, you'll not only be helping the environment. You'll also be helping yourself by lowering your water bill and having extra cash to spend on other things.

With that in mind, here are some tips to save money on your water bill:

• Don't leave the water running. Turn off the water when you are shaving or brushing your teeth. You'll save a gallon or two of water every time. The water may only be running for a few minutes, but you'd be surprised how fast it adds up.
• Take shorter showers. If you average ten minutes per shower, try cutting it down to nine minutes. For each minute you reduce your shower time, you can save 2000 gallons of water per year!
• Install a water saving showerhead. You will barely notice the difference in water pressure, but you will notice the savings on your next water bill.
• Adjust the water level of your washing machine to match each load of laundry. Using the maximum water setting for just a handful of clothes is tremendously wasteful.
• Only use the dishwasher when it is full. Since you can't adjust the water levels like you can with a washing machine, it is important not to run the dishwasher unless it is full. Don't waste water on a few plates and glasses.
• Fix leaks immediately. A faucet that leaks one drop every second will drip over 2500 gallons of water each year.
• Throw a brick in the toilet. Well don't throw it...but put a brick in a zip lock bag and then place it in the water tank behind your toilet. Why? Because it will 'trick' your toilet into using less water each time you flush it. The brick displaces the water in the tank and raises the water line. Each time you flush it will fill with slightly less water than it would without the brick. You'll be saving money instead of flushing it away!

Start using these tips today and your hot water bill reduction will be noticeable immediately.