Lowering your water usage not only lowers your water bill, it also reduces your environmental footprint. It’s a WIN-WIN situation!

Here are 10 ways to lower your water bill and conserve water today.

1 – CHECK FOR LEAKS: A leaking faucet, can equate to money down the drain. A dripping faucet can waste thousands of litres of water per year, and the same goes for a leaking toilet. Repair leaking faucets and toilets as soon as possible.

One trick for checking your toilet for leaks is to add a dye to the toilet tank and see if it seeps into the toilet bowl. To detect if you have other leaks that are not obvious, check your water meter and ensure no water is being used for a few hours (i.e. no faucets opened, no toilets being flushed, etc.). Afterwards, read your water meter to confirm if you’re losing water.

2 – INSTALL LOW-FLOW FIXTURES: There are lots of low-flow fixtures on the market these days…low-flow faucets, aerators, shower heads, and so on. These fixtures are designed to save you thousands of litres annually and can cut your water usage by 25% and more.

If you live in Bruce Grey, The United Way Bruce Grey Energy Assistance Pilot Project can help guide you to energy saving programs and supports: One of the new programs available to Ontario residents who own, lease or rent is SaveOnEnergy and The Energy Affordability Program. Residents may qualify to receive an Energy Saving Kit with easy-to-install products that will help them to save energy in their homes, such as LED lightbulbs, a drying line for clothes and faucet aerators.

3 – PLACE A JUG OR BOTTLE OF WATER IN THE REFRIGERATOR: If you like your drinking water a little bit cold, you may run the faucet for a while before filling your cup. However, since it will not help your water bill, another option is to place a jug of water in the fridge.

4 – INSULATE HOT WATER PIPES: Water is wasted when a hot water faucet is opened and left running for some time so as to get hot water. Insulating hot water pipes with foam pipe insulation will ensure getting that hot water faster and it can cut wastage. The most important areas to insulate is the first few feet of hot water pipes leaving your water heater.

“Just like insulating your walls or roof, insulating your hot water tank is an easy and inexpensive way to improve energy efficiency and save you money each month. If your water tank is new, it is likely already insulated. If you have an older hot water tank, check to see if it has insulation with an R-value of at least 24. If not, consider insulating your water tank, which could reduce standby heat losses by 25%–45% and save you about 7%–16% in water heating costs—and should pay for itself in about a year. You can find pre-cut jackets or blankets available from around $20. If you don’t know your water heater tank’s R-value, touch it. A tank that is warm to the touch needs additional insulation.”

5 – TAKE SHORTER SHOWERS: If you like long showers in the morning this is something to consider! A minute in the shower equates to approximately 9.5 litres of water (on average). For the average Canadian who spends 8 minutes showering, this translates into 76 litres of water/shower. To save some water and energy, consider shortening your shower time.

6 – ONLY RUN FULL LOADS IN THE DISHWASHER AND CLOTHES WASHER:
Fully load up the dishwasher and clothes washer before running them to lower your water usage and bill. Washing full loads can save the average household more than 3400 gallons of water per year.

7 – KEEP YOUR GARDEN WELL-MULCHED: Lower the water needed to grow your garden by mulching. This will increase the ability of the soil to retain moisture and reduce water lost to evaporation.

8 – TIME YOUR LAWN WATERING: Water early in the morning or late in the evening when it’s not so hot and when water lost to evaporation is less. Only water your lawn, shrubs, and trees when they need it.

9 – INSTALL A RAIN BARREL: Rain barrels will collect rain water from the downspouts of your gutters. Water collected can be used to feed your garden or used for other outside cleaning tasks.

10 – CONSIDER UPGRADING TO ENERGY STAR® RATED APPLIANCES:
When replacing your dishwasher and clothes washer, consider going for models that are energy efficient. This will save both water and energy in the long run.

Some things to consider…

Canadians have one of the highest rates of individual water use in the world. Even though Canada is home to about a quarter of the world’s fresh water supplies, it still makes sense for us to conserve water and save this precious resource for future generations.

By: Kim Williams, Outreach Coordinator
The United Way Bruce Grey Energy Assistance Pilot Project

Struggling with high energy bills? You may qualify for energy saving upgrades under our United Way Energy Assistance Pilot Project / Energy Affordability Program.

The Energy Affordability Program offers energy efficient upgrades to Ontario residents who are eligible for Comprehensive Support. Ontario residents who qualify for this level of support will have an energy-efficiency expert visit their home to identify opportunities to help them save energy, receive upgrades and replace eligible appliances. They may also receive insulation and weatherization measures.

The program can also provide you with specialized service based on your needs and can link you to a variety of supports available in your local community.

For more information and other ways we can help, contact Kim, our Outreach Coordinator for the United Way Energy Assistance Program at 1-800-794-1728 or kim@unitedwaybg.com

For more information, visit: https://unitedwayofbrucegrey.com/services-offered/energy-assistance-pilot-project/