9 Ways to Reduce Your Water Bill

1. Turn Off the Tap

To stop washing money down the drain, turn off the faucet while you're brushing your teeth, washing your face or shaving. Simply turning the water off while brushing your teeth can save up to 8 gallons of water per day—a small change that can really add up over time.

2. Take Shorter Showers

A five-minute shower uses about 10 to 25 gallons of water, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). That can be significant savings compared to a bath, which uses as much as 70 gallons of water. Still, showers account for almost 17% of indoor water use, the EPA reports. Reduce usage by shortening your showers or turning the water off while you're soaping up.

Learn more: Ways to Save Money at Home

3. Find and Fix Leaks

Water leaks waste almost 10,000 gallons of water annually in the average household, according to the EPA; a leaky toilet alone can waste 200 gallons of water a day. Check for dripping taps, leaky showerhead connections and leaking toilets regularly. The EPA has a guide to finding and fixing water leaks; it's often as easy as changing a washer or replacing a worn toilet valve seal.

You can find leaks elsewhere in your plumbing system by checking your water meter's leak indicator or by not using any water for two hours and checking to see if the meter changes. If your meter indicates water usage when all taps are off, it's possible there's a leak somewhere. Call a plumber to get it diagnosed.

Tip: Consider installing a leak detection device, which notifies you if a leak in your water system is detected. (Some systems automatically shut off the water too.) Installing a leak monitoring device may qualify you for a discount on your homeowners insurance.

4. Install Water-Saving Fixtures

Most indoor water is used in the bathroom, with toilets alone accounting for up to 27% of household water use, the EPA reports. Replacing bathroom faucets, showerheads and toilets with water-saving models can save the average household hundreds of dollars a year. Products with the WaterSense label are 20% more water-efficient than standard models; premium high-efficiency toilets use even less water.

Tip: Installing water-efficient faucet aerators on existing faucets costs just a few dollars and delivers the same water savings as replacing fixtures. One way to reduce toilet water flow (especially on older toilets with large tanks) is to fill two plastic soda bottles with sand or gravel and put them in your toilet tank.

5. Replace Inefficient Appliances

Swap out older dishwashers and washing machines for Energy Star-certified models that meet EPA energy efficiency standards. Many Energy Star appliances also use less water: For example, Energy Star-labeled washing machines and dishwashers can reduce water usage by up to 50% and 65%, respectively.

Tip: Look for rebates on water-saving fixtures and appliances to offset the cost of the purchase. Check with your local water utility to see what offers are available.

Learn more: How to Save Money on Your Electric Bill

6. Wash Dishes Efficiently

Washing dishes by hand uses up to 20 gallons of water; Energy Star-certified dishwashers use 3.5 gallons or less. If you don't have a dishwasher, avoid running the faucet while you hand wash. Instead, scrape food scraps into the compost bin or trash. Then fill one side of the sink with hot, soapy water to wash and the other with cool water to rinse.

7. Smartly Water Your Plants

Outdoor residential irrigation accounts for more than 30% of total household water use, on average, the EPA reports. To reduce outdoor water usage:

• Water before sunrise or after sunset so water can sink into the soil instead of evaporating in the sun.
• Check sprinklers regularly and adjust them to target the landscape, not the driveway or sidewalk. Lots of runoff is an indication of overwatering.
• Replace sprinklers with low-flow sprinkler heads or drip irrigation.
• Upgrade from a clock-based irrigation controller to a smart irrigation controller. Smart controllers let you adjust timing and set watering zones; they automatically adjust watering based on weather. Switching to a WaterSense controller can reduce water use up to 30%, according to the EPA.

Tip: Set up rain barrels to collect rainwater and use it to water your plants. Some towns sell rain barrels; you can also buy them at home and garden stores. (Rainwater can have contaminants, so avoid using it for any plants you plan on consuming.)

8. Use Drought-Tolerant Landscaping

Landscaping that doesn't need much irrigation, known as xeriscaping, can save you substantially on water. Xeriscaping uses native or drought-tolerant plants and water-saving irrigation systems. On average, professional landscaping costs $4.50 to $12 per square foot, according to home services site Angi. However, you may be able to do some of the work yourself, and many cities, municipalities and water providers offer homeowners rebates that help cover the cost of xeriscaping.

Learn more: How to Pay for Home Improvements

9. Use Care When Washing Cars

Going through the car wash uses just 30 to 45 gallons of water, compared to an average 80 to 140 gallons when you wash it at home. If you'd rather not pay for a car wash or your vehicle requires hand washing, you can minimize water waste by using a hose with an automatic shutoff nozzle. Wet the car, use a sponge and a bucket full of soapy water to wash it, then rinse it off, keeping in mind that the average garden hose uses 10 gallons per minute.

Tip: See if your water company's website or app can notify you when your water use exceeds a certain level. This can quickly alert you to problems such as a water leak or a hose left running.

What to Do if You Can't Afford Your Water Bill

If you're having trouble paying your water bill, help is out there. Consider these resources:

• Bill assistance programs: Water utilities may have programs that cover some or all of the cost of water bills for low-income households, the elderly or people with disabilities.
• Payment plans or extensions: Some water providers offer payment plans for customers who are having trouble paying bills. You may also be able to get your payment due date extended.
• Budget billing plans: Many water companies let you spread your monthly payments into 12 equal amounts, so your bill stays level each month. While this won't reduce your bill, it can make payments more manageable if your water use varies seasonally.
• State and federal resources: Visit the Benefit Finder on benefits.gov to search for federal or state assistance programs that may help pay your water bill.
• 211.org: Operated by the United Way, 211 is a free hotline that provides information on services in your area. You can call 211 or visit 211.org to find out about resources in your community and get connected with the appropriate assistance organization.
• Credit counseling: If you're struggling to pay bills due to debt, consider talking to a credit counselor who can help you get control of your finances, set a budget and tackle payments. You can find credit counselors through the Financial Counseling Association of America and the National Foundation for Credit Counseling.

Learn more: What to Do if You Can't Pay Your Essential Bills

The Bottom Line

Saving on your water bill may require an investment upfront. Check for rebates with your city and water provider and assess your savings. If the savings will justify the cost of home improvements and you can comfortably repay what you borrow, a credit card with a 0% introductory 0% APR, personal loan, home equity loan or home equity line of credit may be options to explore.

Lowering your utility bills can benefit your budget, and how you pay them could boost your credit score with Experian Boost^®ø. This free feature adds your eligible on-time utility, phone, streaming and insurance payments to your Experian credit report, which could help improve your credit scores.