How To Save Money On Your Water Bill!
By 4 Pumps|November 05, 2013
When you first consider it, saving on water doesn't sound like much fun. Shorter showers? Fewer water fights? A smaller pool? No thanks!
The good news is that, these days, it doesn't have to be so tough. Technological developments, from shut-off hose nozzles to automated sprinklers to water-saving irrigation pumps, mean that we can save water (and therefore money!) without making too many painful sacrifices. It's just a matter of knowing a few clever tricks.
OUTDOORS
For many homeowners, lush lawns and bountiful blooms are half the enjoyment of owning a property. So, what can you do to keep your green, while cutting back on your H2O habit?
Firstly, be strict about your sprinkler. Are you feeding your backyard enough fluid to flood the Mekong Delta? Do you know that the majority of lawns require only 15-20mm of water per week? Avoid any unnecessary drenching by using a rain gauge. While you're at it, check that your sprinkler isn't hitting paved areas.
Secondly, choose your time wisely. Watering during the coolest periods of the day - dawn and dusk - minimises evaporation.
Thirdly, consider investing in an irrigation system, to save money and hassle in the long run. Systems driven by solar pumps and energy saving irrigation pumps are the most efficient.
INDOORS
Here are a few scary facts:
- An old-fashioned, one-flush toilet uses up to 12 litres per hit.
- An average shower head delivers water at a rate of 25 litres per minute.
- Leaking toilets can waste up to 16,000 litres of water every year, while for leaking taps it's 2,000 litres per month.
The solution? Invest in a toilet dam, or a new toilet, which will use only six litres per flush; a low-flow shower head, which can reduce usage to seven litres per minute; and put food colouring in your toilet tank. What? It won't save water, but if you see colour in the bowl before half an hour is up, you can bet your bottom dollar that your toilet has a leak.
Enjoy summer, while cutting back on water usage without even feeling the effects!
The good news is that, these days, it doesn't have to be so tough. Technological developments, from shut-off hose nozzles to automated sprinklers to water-saving irrigation pumps, mean that we can save water (and therefore money!) without making too many painful sacrifices. It's just a matter of knowing a few clever tricks.
OUTDOORS
For many homeowners, lush lawns and bountiful blooms are half the enjoyment of owning a property. So, what can you do to keep your green, while cutting back on your H2O habit?
Firstly, be strict about your sprinkler. Are you feeding your backyard enough fluid to flood the Mekong Delta? Do you know that the majority of lawns require only 15-20mm of water per week? Avoid any unnecessary drenching by using a rain gauge. While you're at it, check that your sprinkler isn't hitting paved areas.
Secondly, choose your time wisely. Watering during the coolest periods of the day - dawn and dusk - minimises evaporation.
Thirdly, consider investing in an irrigation system, to save money and hassle in the long run. Systems driven by solar pumps and energy saving irrigation pumps are the most efficient.
INDOORS
Here are a few scary facts:
- An old-fashioned, one-flush toilet uses up to 12 litres per hit.
- An average shower head delivers water at a rate of 25 litres per minute.
- Leaking toilets can waste up to 16,000 litres of water every year, while for leaking taps it's 2,000 litres per month.
The solution? Invest in a toilet dam, or a new toilet, which will use only six litres per flush; a low-flow shower head, which can reduce usage to seven litres per minute; and put food colouring in your toilet tank. What? It won't save water, but if you see colour in the bowl before half an hour is up, you can bet your bottom dollar that your toilet has a leak.
Enjoy summer, while cutting back on water usage without even feeling the effects!
