Under the Median: Three Water Conservation Hacks That Actually Save You Money

Our basement recently developed a leak in a water pipe. This same pipe has repeatedly given us problems. It was Saturday. The plumber couldn't come until Tuesday morning! We quickly discovered that if we shut the water off at the valve and released the pressure at the sinks, then the water ceased to leak.

We made the decision to shut the water off for extended periods of time each day. We carefully planned exactly when we would turn the valve, allowing water to flow through the pipes. Once we turned on the spigots, we had about 30 minutes before the water escaping from the leak soaked two large bath towels.

About four times a day, as my husband turned on the master valve, I announced that everyone would take the fastest shower possible, brush their teeth, and go to the bathroom so we could flush the toilets. At the same time, I filled the sink with soapy water for dishes, put the kettle on for tea, and ensured that the filtered pitchers were full of drinking water. We moved like a well-oiled machine!

After about 24 hours, it occurred to me that we were probably saving a significant amount of money, by using much less water. I'm actually a fan of the "green movement" in that the vast majority of the time being "green" not only makes sense, but it also results in saving money. You all know that I'm all about cutting expenses wherever I can!

My Quest Begins

Being the kind of girl who likes answers, I did some research! My quest to see why the loss of water impacted my family's psyche the way it did, had begun. Let's see why reducing our water usage should be important to everyone, especially those living under the median.

Lack of Water Made Us Value It More

When you don't have immediate access to something, you no longer take it for granted. We have four filtered water pitchers, which I normally have to beg the boys to refill. They were suddenly very important! When my husband turned on the water, one of the boys would shout, "Hey, Mom! Are the water pitchers filled?" The entire weekend those pitchers stayed filled. They were our only source of fresh water. We could not longer turn on a spigot to get a drink.

It is a simple fact that without water, you die. Well, it would take a number of days. But, scientifically you can actually live longer without food than you can without water.

According to National Geographic, although 70% of the surface of the earth is comprised of water, just 2.5% of it is fresh. Okay, that still has to be a lot of water, right? Don't get your hopes up. Much of the fresh water is inaccessible, leaving us with just .007% which is potable (that means drinkable for humans).

That right there makes me appreciate being able to turn on a tap and see water run out of it!

Three Ways To Save Money on Your Water Bill

How much money can you save by adopting some water saving techniques? Well, I'll tell you! An article on the website Sustainable Earth recommends three main water conservation ideas. Each of them will save an average of 1000 gallons of water a month or $140 a year. So, if you incorporate all three, then you are talking about substantial green to put back in your pocket!

(This post contains affiliate links. If you click on a link and make a purchase I will receive a small compensation at no additional cost to you. Thank you.)

1. Low-flow Faucet Aerators

These handy gadgets are cheap and super easy to put on your faucet. Basically just screw it on. They reduce the flow of water. You are still able to comfortably wash your hands and do the dishes. You just use less water. These are from Amazon and are incredibly inexpensive for a two-pack! Click here for a link or click on the photo below.

2. Low-Flow Shower Heads

We got two of these in a kit that my kids brought home from a class. They were studying the energy crisis from the 1970's. and invited a representative from Ameron Illinois come in and talk to the class about water conservation. She brought along a free energy kit for each student. It had a special power strip, light bulbs, and a low-flow shower head in each kit!

The whole idea of a low-flow shower head is exactly the same as the faucet aerators. It reduces the flow of water. So, when you shower, you still get comfortably clean, but use less water! Click here for a link or click on the photo.

3. Replace your toilet or put a gallon jug or a brick in the tank.

For the past several months every single time we flushed our downstairs toilet we have had to pour 4-6 cups of water into it to get it to flush correctly. It's crazy and frustrating!

Full-flush toilets use 3.6 gallons of water with every pull of the handle. Since 2002, new standards require that they use just 1.6 gallons - nearly 2/3 less water!

If you're not in the market for a new commode then you can put a half gallon jug full of water or a brick in the tank. Wikihow tells you how to follow six simple steps to make any toilet into a low-flow toilet.

If you want something commercially made try these water saving devices called Toilet Tank Banks.