Water Conservation Tips for the Frugal Apartment Dweller

You can save money monthly when you learn to apply simple water conservation tips. When you allow water to run all the time, without thinking about it, you’re pouring money down the drain. Follow these tips, and you’ll put money back into your pocket.

Rinse Water

Saving water requires you to be creative. There are many ways to reuse water rather than dumping it down the drain after a single use. For example, rather than throwing out the water you use to wash your vegetables, catch the water in a bowl or sink, and use that same water in your container garden or house plants.

Showers and Bath

Shortening the length of your showers will not only help you save time, but also it will help you save water. Long showers can be soothing, especially after a long day’s work. However, each minute you spend running water, you’re adding costs to your utility bills. When you run a bath, plug the tub before you start running the water. Most people have a tendency to run the water until they reach the temperature they want, which wastes water. Instead, you should plug the tub and then start running the water, adjusting the temperature as the water fills it up.

Laundry

There are few water conservation tips that are effective to use when doing laundry. For example, only wash full loads. You can save several hundred gallons each year just by doing that simple act. Watch the level of the water you’re using and make sure that it matches the actual load. If you select “large” for a cycle that only contains a small load, you’ll waste water.

Faucets

A very basic water conservation tip is to shut off the faucets when you’re not using the water. It can be easy to forget to do this when doing routine tasks. For example, when brushing your teeth, do you leave the water running until you’re completely done? You could be saving water if you remember to turn it off while you’re brushing your teeth. Do you leave the water running to pick up the phone or talk to your spouse? Try to pay more attention when you turn on faucets. You can even use a visual reminder until it becomes a habit. Put a small sign near the faucets that say: “Turn Me Off”.

Car Wash

You can use a lot of water when you wash your car. Saving water is achievable when it comes to car washing. You just have to be mindful about your efforts to conserve water in this area. One trick is to turn off your water when you wash the car. Don’t just leave the hose running as you soap and scrub the vehicle. If you have a yard and are responsible for watering it, wash the car on the lawn so that it can get soak up the water. That’s less work for you, and you’ll save more water.

Frugal living inolves a lot of sacrifice, and you’ll have to make some when it comes to applying these water conservation tips. Do what you can to remind yourself to do these tips throughout your day, until it becomes a habit.