How to save money on your water bill

We all need and use water in our homes. We can't live without it! Literally, it isn't one of those things where you say "I just gotta have it" like that shiny new appliance you saw on some infomercial the other day. You really do need water to live. So, how do we get this need under control and affordable?

These tips aren't for the faint of heart. These are some serious, buckle down and batten down the hatches type tricks. If you're struggling to get by, you may want to consider using some of these tips. If you're trying to pick which bills to pay this month and which ones will just have to wait because there isn't enough money to cover them all; this article is for you!

Roll up your sleeves and get ready to make a serious dent in that water bill!

When you're getting ready to wash the dishes, or you need hot water for a recipe; what do you do? You let the tap run for a while until it's hot enough, right? STOP IT!! Do you have any idea how much money you are sending down the drain?

Instead, have a pitcher handy to collect the water while you're waiting for your ideal temperature to be reached. Take all of that rescued water and put it in the fridge. Now, not only aren't you wasting that water, you're also not wasting the water you let run when you're trying to get it cold enough for a glass to drink!

**Want to save even more in other areas? Keep your old milk, juice, or other "jugs" and containers to use as large water bottles for the fridge! Go recycling!

Remember, you don't have to start with hot water in your coffee pot, so if you find you have extra water taking over your fridge, use that instead of the tap. This also works when cooking vegetables on the stove. You'll be amazed at how much you save in money by saving your water!

There are so many water saving ideas here it's mind boggling. Let me just give you some of the "super star" basics:

1. Place containers under your water spout (at the end of your rain gutters). These can be 5 gallon buckets, plastic ice-cream pales, or anything that can hold a good deal of water. You don't have to buy something super cute to save money. Use what you've got! When it rains, these containers will be filled with FREE rain water, which then can be used to water your yard and garden. In addition, they can be used for watering pets outdoors.
2. Drag out those buckets, pales, snow sleds, or anything else that can hold water when you see rain clouds moving in. Place them around your porch, driveway, and/or yard. This will again, go toward watering your yard, garden, trees, plants, or outdoor animals. You'd be surprised to find just how much water you can collect from rain when you put it out there. Why pay for hose water when you can get a supply of fresh rain water at no additional charge?
3. Save your cooking water! After you've prepared hot dogs, pasta, potatoes, or frozen vegetables in a pot of water on the stove; don't head straight for the sink to dump it out! What are you doing? Let it cool, then use it to water your plants outside. Watering the indoor plants will leave a film from pasta. Use the meat water for animals, not on plants. This is a fantastic treat for dogs and cats, they love the extra flavor & nutrition the meat water offers.

**15-20 gallon plastic/rubber tubs with lids are ideal for storing your extra collection water.

Pot water is a term used to describe using recycled, unclean water. When you use water twice, rather than just once, you cut your spending in half! Since you're only paying for it once. This is a fantastic way to put a serious dent in your water bill!

So what is "pot water", where do you get it?

Saving and storing water from the sink after washing dishes, or the bathtub after baths and showers is considered "pot water". Keep this old, dirty water in a sealed container, such as a rubber/plastic tub or tote.

The best use for pot water is for flushing your toilet. Let's face it, that's dirty water anyway, right? Who cares if there's a little soap going down with the "other" stuff. It's specifically intended for dirty water use!

By flushing your toilet with pot water, rather than pushing down on the handle, you can trim your water bill by up to 30% just with this trick alone! That's one heck of a water savings.

By following the above tips and tricks you are guaranteed to lower your water bill substantially. You'll be doing your wallet and the environment both a favor. There's nothing quite like a double bonus, which is what all of these tips provide. So walk with pride as you rack up the double bonus savings in your home!