Downloadable PDF version of this resource

Water Bill Woes? Help is on the Way! Montana State University Extension Water Quality and the City of Bozeman Water and Sewer Department have put together some WATER SAVING TIPS to conserve water and save you money! 

Cool, Clear WATER

If you like cold water to drink, keep a pitcher of water in the fridge instead of
running the tap until the water cools. You can save 2 gallons of water PER DRINK! 

Got Leaks?

Repair those leaky faucets! It’s amazing how much one little drip can add up to in a year! You can calculate how much water you’re losing from that leaky faucet with the WaterWiser® Drip Calculator on the American Water Works Association web page at http://www.awwa.org/advocacy/learn/conserve/dripcalc.cfm  FYI…5 drips a minute = 263 gallons of water a year…now THAT’S throwin’ money down the drain! 

In General

  • Catch water in a jug while waiting for it to warm and use it for drinking, watering plants or pets.
  • Buy low-flow showerheads and aerators for your faucets.
  • Only do full loads of laundry or dishes.
  • If you have to replace your washing machine, consider a front-loading one. They use ~75% less water, save energy, and hold more laundry.
  • Save water and energy by insulating water heaters and hot water pipes.
  •  If you have to replace your water softener, consider one with a "hardness sensor" that will automatically trigger regeneration as needed. This makes the most efficient use of both water and salt.
  • Consider buying environmentally friendly cleaners – many cleaners contain chemicals which are not broken down by sewage treatment and can cause damage after they pass through the sewer system and enter our water. 

In the Bathroom

Shower Vs. Bath

  •  Taking a 5-minute shower instead of a bath can save 15 gallons of water!
  • If you do take a bath – close the drain before starting t water - you won’t even notice that first bit of cold wate
    by the time the tub is full.
  • Take shorter showers and/or turn off water while applying soap and shampoo. 

Toilet Time

  • Don’t use toilets as wastebaskets – flush only when you need to.
  • Replace your toilet with a low-flush model – older toilets can use 5-6 gallons per flush while low-flushers only use 1.5 gallons and work just fine. You can still use your old toilet and save over 1,000 gallons of water per person per year: Put 1 gallon or 2 quart bottles of water in the tank to displace toilet flows.
  • Fix leaky toilets! A leaky toilet can waste as much as 200 gallons of water A DAY! 

Brush Brush Shave Shave

  • When you’re brushing your teeth use a glassful of water for rinsing instead of running the tap. You can save 3 or more gallons of water per brushing!
  • Turning off the water while shaving (girls and guys) can save more than 5 gallons of water per day! 

In the Kitchen

Dishes Dishes Dishes...

  • When doing dishes by hand you can save up to 25 gallons of water by filling the sink with soap and water instead of running water the whole time.
  • If you’re buying a dishwasher, look for models that are more water efficient. Some of the new models have a smaller upper drawer for light/normal loads and a larger bottom drawer for those times when you have lots of dishes. FYI…a full dishwasher is more water efficient than washing the same amount of dishes by hand! WOOOHOOO – another benefit of dishwashers!

Cooking

  • Cover pots while cooking - this uses less water, saves energy and your water will boil faster.
  • Use less water when cooking/steaming veggies – this also reduces nutrient loss.
  • Use the leftover water from veggies for soups or sauces – this adds flavor and nutrients.
  • Thaw frozen foods in the refrigerator, not under running tap water. This can save 5 or more gallons of water each time.
  • Start a compost pile instead of using the garbage disposal.