Published: Jul 18, 2013 | 16:57 PM

How to Save the Most Money on Your Water Bill

 

Do you think taking shorter showers is the best way to reduce water use? How about fixing a pesky water leak?

In reality, the best way to save the most money on your water bill is to reduce outdoor water use.

Outdoor watering can account for up to 65 percent of your total home water use. That’s more than the water used for showering, dishwashing, laundry, and toilet flushing combined. Being smart about your outdoor water use is especially important during the warm summer months. IRWD offers you three key tips to reduce your outdoor water use and save the most money on your water bill:

Choose the right plants. Did you know that a California appropriate landscape uses up to 40 percent less water than a traditional grass-heavy residential landscape? There are beautiful and vibrant plants that can be used to create a colorful and water-efficient garden. IRWD’s garden website, www.irwdCALscape.org, offers plenty of options and ideas for customers who are looking for ways to develop an attractive, healthy and water efficient landscape. It’s a one-stop shop with garden tours, garden galleries, a searchable plant database and a garden resources section.

Use the right tools. Watering your landscape with efficient equipment, such as rotating nozzles and smart timers, helps you maintain your lawn properly. Checking periodically for leaks in your sprinkler system or for broken sprinkler heads will also help you save water and money. Rebates are available on our website for water-efficient devices, such as rotating spray nozzles (receive up to $4 per nozzle) and weather-based irrigation controllers (receive up to $385).

Reduce watering. With IRWD’s Irrigation Schedule(available on our website), you can program your sprinkler timer to adequately water your lawn and garden with the least amount of water needed. For example, throughout July and August, grass only needs to be watered four days a week for three cycles (spaced an hour apart) of three minutes each—a total of 36 minutes a week. Watering in the early morning helps reduce water lost to evaporation and wind, and watering in cycles allows maximum absorption into the soil where water is needed—at the roots. For more information and resources on saving money on your water bill and reducing your overall water usage, visit www.alwayswatersmart.com.