If your water bill is higher than you think it should be, there’s a good chance that you consume more water than you really need. Usually, this is because of a few bad bathroom habits. While they might seem relatively minor, these actions are very wasteful and add up over a period of time.
1. Daydreaming while showering – This is a very common problem. Most people spend far too much time showering, and every additional minute wastes around 2.1 gallons of water. As relaxing as it is, too much daydreaming will greatly drive up your utility bill.
You can monitor the amount of time you spend showering by setting a timer or listening to the radio and counting the number of songs. This will also help you get ready for work quicker.
2. Letting the shower run until it gets hot – Compared to the other items on this list, it’s easy to forgive this one. The initial burst of water from the shower is usually freezing cold, and most people certainly don’t want to stand under it. Still, letting the shower run for a few seconds wastes countless gallons of water every year, so what can you do?
• Option 1: Catch the water with a bucket or some other container, and set it aside for watering the plants or other activities. Free and easy, but this is fairly troublesome. You need to be very disciplined to keep it up.
• Option 2: Add a device to your shower system to regulate the water, eliminating the cold water runoff entirely. An example of this is the Grundfos Comfort System, offered by PowayPlumbing.com and other suppliers around the country.
• Option 3: Grit your teeth and bear the initial blast of cold. Needless to say, not everyone is willing to do this, but it’s still a choice.
3. Using the bathtub everyday – Is there anything more luxurious than sinking into your bathtub after a long day of work? That luxury comes at a price, however, to the tune of roughly 40 gallons of water every time you fill the tub. That’s two to four times greater than a quick shower! Save your tub for special occasions, or at least limit your usage.
Water is a precious resource, and everyone needs to conserve it. You can do your part by simply changing these three habits.
