1. Opt for reusable water bottles
Here’s a secret a lot of people don’t seem to know: Tap water is drinkable. Keeping a nice, BPA-free water bottle in your bag is an insanely simple way money. Bottled water is incredibly wasteful on so many levels: An estimated 80 percent of them don’t get recycled and, because of the plastic production process, it takes three times the amount of water in a water bottle to produce just one!
2. Install a low flow showerhead
Going with the (low) flow is an easy way to use 25 to 60 percent less water in the shower, which means big savings on the water bill. Most shower heads are adjustable, so it’s easy to use the low flow setting when lathering up and a high flow when it’s time to rinse.
3. Turn off the tap
It’s an all-too-common habit to leave the tap running while washing your face, brushing your teeth, doing the dishes, and so on. Turning off the tap is simple, brings no inconvenience, and saves a lot of resources in the long run.
4. Repair that leaky faucet
A leaky tap can waste 140 gallons of water a week—that’s a pretty big dent in the water bill. People are often unaware of leaks, so make a note to check all fixtures (including pipes under sinks) regularly.
5. Take shorter showers
Shaving even one minute off of the daily shower will save nearly a thousand gallons of water every year, which translates into big savings on the water bill—and it’s better for the planet.
6. Wash produce and save the water
There’s no reason we can’t wash fruits and vegetables in a large bowl and save the runoff for watering the garden or lawn (or those little potted plants). The same thing can be done after boiling pasta or potatoes—just make sure the water’s not salted!
