How to lower water usage?

[Ouse]

Basically, I have four fish tanks and four people living in my house, myself included... yeah. We use lots of water. In fact, we use as much water as a five person house! Does anyone here know useful methods or life hacks that can lower our water usage (and hopefully the bills)?

 

[mattgirl]

The only way I've been able to do that is use fish tank water instead of fresh water to water my house and yard plants. I don't need much fish tank water during the winter months but the rest of the years it all gets used for plants.

 

[NotSoAggressiveAquatics]

Maybe get a well and start using well water? Idk if that’s how it works though

 

[Ouse]

I’m not a gardener, so I wouldn’t worry much about watering plants. All I have is a small cactus in the kitchen. I could try and practice just drinking less and using less water bath and sink water.

I have been thinking about changing water less often or by less. Maybe with my betta tank (since the betta is the only resident of his tank) I could change the water by less as I usually do around 50% weekly. I was thinking 25-30% but I’m not sure if this is a good idea. Sometimes my dad does a midweek water change on the 60 gallon although it receives it’s weekly water change at the weekend.

Maybe get a well and start using well water? Idk if that’s how it works though

Being on this forum for a while I really wish I were on well water...

 

[carsonsgjs]

I’m not a gardener, so I wouldn’t worry much about watering plants. All I have is a small cactus in the kitchen. I could try and practice just drinking less and using less water bath and sink water.

I have been thinking about changing water less often or by less. Maybe with my betta tank (since the betta is the only resident of his tank) I could change the water by less as I usually do around 50% weekly. I was thinking 25-30% but I’m not sure if this is a good idea. Sometimes my dad does a midweek water change on the 60 gallon although it receives it’s weekly water change at the weekend.

Being on this forum I really wish I were on well water...

Youre also in england...it rains. A lot! Recycling tank water makes that quite difficult. I used to be able to use up some of my tank water in the garden but so far this year, its rained that much that i dont think the garden will ever need moisture again.

Think of ways to save water usage in other ways. Turn the tap off when brushing your teeth, time your showers etc.

I have some alternative water saving methods that i wont share here...they may cause hygiene issues!

 

[Ouse]

Youre also in england...it rains. A lot! Recycling tank water makes that quite difficult. I used to be able to use up some of my tank water in the garden but so far this year, its rained that much that i dont think the garden will ever need moisture again.

Think of ways to save water usage in other ways. Turn the tap off when brushing your teeth, time your showers etc.

I have some alternative water saving methods that i wont share here...they may cause hygiene issues!

I totally understand; the weather today was something else! I came home with soggy shoes...

I don’t have a shower, just a bath tub. When brushing my teeth I fill the sink and use that water rather than keeping the tap on. This gives me the ideas of having shallower, quicker baths and using less water to brush my teeth.

I’m going to go strict on myself with water usage and hopefully see if it goes down.

 

[Idkitsathrowaway]

have you ever seen those life straws? you can make a large version of that with shockingly little materials(we went over the reuse and cleaning of water in a emergency sinaio, zombie apocalypse, in my science class), and potentially reuse water it works hyphithiticly though never tried it myself, you could do that thing people do co clean salt water so they can drink it (idk what its called)

 

[AIvinn]

Maybe propose shorter baths to your family? 5 mins max.

 

[BigManAquatics]

For me, changing my water takes up about as much water as 2 10 minute showers. So guess which i cut

 

[Ouse]

I would bath less but that would be seen as unhygienic. Not that I myself would care. At most I could run shallower baths and stay in there for less time.

If only I could put all of that rain water to use...

 

[carsonsgjs]

I would bath less but that would be seen as unhygienic. Not that I myself would care. At most I could run shallower baths and stay in there for less time.

If only I could put all of that rain water to use...

Rain is natures shower - just head outside with the soap next time it rains.

just ignore the stares from the neighbours. They will get used to it eventually.

 

[AJE]

A lib and plants will reduce water usage

 

[Donthemon]

I have a hot tub and take chlorine baths! Don’t have t ll change the water until 3-4 months! We also got a high efficiency clothes washer and dishwasher that uses way less water than our old ones.

 

[StarGirl]

I would bath less but that would be seen as unhygienic. Not that I myself would care. At most I could run shallower baths and stay in there for less time.

If only I could put all of that rain water to use...

If you have a shallower bath it doesnt matter how long you stay in there. lol

Purchase some new containers to catch rain water in.

 

[pagoda]

StinkyLoaf

Are you on a water meter or are your parents paying standard water rates?

If on water meter, have it checked for accuracy

If on normal standard annual rates, apply for a water meter. That will reduce the bills significantly since the standard rates is the average amount for the household and is never the exact amount according to who/how many is in the household.

For example.

My flat is down on the council rates/council tax as a max 3 person residence. My water company used that to equate the water rates per year...£467

I applied for a water meter cos there is absolutely no way I used that much water. They came and discovered the supply was a shared one tween 4 properties. No meter possible but they did re-evaluate the water charges as being £210 per year.

And do not forget the water bill is 75% waste water treatment and 25% water supply charges on average. Check the small print on the water bill to find the break down of charges and you might be surprised.