We all know that feeling; you receive your utility account and your outstanding balance is through the roof, along with our stress levels and blood pressure. But there are a few ways in which we can have a certain level of control over our bill, and that is by our behaviours when we consume the services. One of these, which we’ll deal with today, is water consumption.
Did you know that there are 3 main causes of high water usage?
- A dripping tap.
- A running toilet.
- Leaking pipes.
Some interesting facts:
- A running toilet can waste up to 16,000l of water in a single year.
- A leaking tap can waste up to 17l of water per minute.
- The bathroom uses on average 49% of the total household water consumption. So When it comes to trying to save on water, this would be the place to start.
- An 8-minute shower can use around 120l of water.
- A 5-minute shower uses around 30l of water.
- A bath uses on average 90l of water.
- A dishwasher uses around 40l or less of water, which makes it not only a water saving investment but it will also lessen your electricity consumption.
- Washing your car with a bucket uses 10l of water. So try and leave the hosepipe aside.
- A sprinkler can use up to 540l of water.
- Brushing your teeth while running the tap can waste about 6lof water.
- Washing your hands can use as much as 4l of water or more.
- Filling a kettle uses 2,5l of water.
- A hose without a trigger nozzle can use as much as 500l per hour.
So what can you do to keep your water bill low?
- Re-use your bath or shower water into the cistern of the toilet. Use a bucket-system, and if you are concerned about grey water being smelly, a small amount of chlorine in your bucket will do the trick to keep the water clean.
- Allow your washing machine and dishwasher outlet to run into a bucket or drum, and re-use either in your garden and even in your toilet. Some households who have implemented this were able to cut their water consumption by 65%.
- Keep an eye on your water meter regularly to ensure that you notice possible water leaks early.
- Fix dripping taps and leaking toilets immediately. A new seal is cheaper than the bill at the end of the month.
- If you suspect a water leak on your property, call a qualified plumber to do a leak-check test.
Making small adjustments in our behaviour when consuming water can have massive savings benefits on our pockets. And we’ll also be doing out bit to help save the environment.
A final fact to remember: The municipality’s responsibility ends at the water meter. So keep your side of the meter in good condition.
