Save Water, Save Money

I could start this article with a rant about the incredible wastefulness of our society when it comes to water usage. After all, our freshwater resources around the world are limited and what we do have is being squandered and contaminated. But environmental concerns aside, being wasteful with water can have a huge impact on your monthly utility bills if you pay for your water. By saving water with these simple tips, you can be green and save a little green at the same time.

1. Check for leaks. You may have pipes or appliances leaking – even if you can’t see the leak – and the cost of this lost water adds up fast. If you have a water meter, read it before and after a two-hour interval when no one is using any water. If it doesn't read exactly the same, you’ve got a leak somewhere in the house.

2. Fix leaks by replacing washers on dripping faucets. A drip rate of one drop per second wastes about 3,000 gallons per year and that’s a lot of money! If you don’t know how to replace a washer, ask for help at a local hardware store – it’s a simple repair that you can easily do yourself.

3. Take shorter showers. Yes, I know how good a long, hot shower feels in the morning, but think about the money you’ll save if you find another way to indulge. In fact, recent research says that taking a shower in the morning may cause a mid-morning energy dip. Save your money and stay peppy throughout the day with a shorter shower later in the day.

4. Replace your showerhead with a low flow one that uses less than 2.5 gallons per minute - you'll never notice the difference! If you can spare a few extra dollars, upgrade to a model that lets you easily stop the flow while you suds up, then resume for rinsing.

5. Turn off the water while you’re brushing your teeth or shaving. If you have to pay for your water, don’t stand there watching your money flow down the drain!

6. Run only full loads in the washer or dishwasher or adjust the water level for smaller loads. Choose water-efficient appliances – front-loading washers use about a third less water than top-loading machines.

7. Keep a jug of drinking water in the fridge so you don't have to run the tap waiting for the water to cool down. If your city chlorinates its water, you’ll also reduce the chemical content of the water since some of the chlorine escapes into the air as it sits in the jug.

8. Collect the water that would otherwise be going down the drain while you're waiting for the hot water to reach your faucet. You can use it for watering plants or cleaning.

Conserving water at home also helps reduce or eliminate costs for infrastructure such as new or upgraded reservoirs, water treatment facilities, or sewage treatment plants. These improvements cost a lot of money and cities usually pass the cost on to homeowners through municipal taxes. Whatever your reason – whether it’s to save the planet or just a few dollars – conserving water makes sense!

Sarah Russell, aka "The Sexy Secretary," is a connoisseur of living the good life on a budget. Check out her website at www.thesexysecretary.com for more fabulous ideas on how to trim down your expenses without reducing your quality of life.