How saving water can help you lower your overall bills.

Here are some steps you can take to save on your water bill. Also, read about product offerings from the federal government’s new WaterSense program.

Tips to save on water bills

1. Use a low flow shower head. These show heads can lower water flow by as much as 40 percent, and lead to significant savings on your water bills.

2. Reduce the number of tub baths and showers that you take. Taking a shower, when equipped with a conventional shower head, uses about 5 to 10 gallons of water every minute. Taking a shower accounts for over 30 percent of the total water used in the home.

3. Immediately repair any dripping faucets by replacing washers. If your faucet drips at the rate of one drop per second, you will waste over 2,700 gallons of water per year. This will add greatly to the water bills that you are paying. 

4. Check for your toilet leaking by adding food coloring to the tank. If your toilet is leaking, the color will appear within 30 minutes. Then be sure to check the toilet for corroded, worn out, or bent parts. Many  replacement parts are inexpensive, easily installed, and readily available. Be sure to flush as soon as test is done as food coloring may stain tank.

5. Avoid flushing your toilet unnecessarily. Be sure to dispose of insects, tissues, and other such waste in the trash can rather than flushing the toilet.