Six Useful Apps and Tools to Save on Your Water Bill
As water usage rates rise , you may be looking for ways to use (and therefore pay) less water. Finding out which of your appliances use the most water, ensuring faucets only run when needed, and keeping an eye out for leaks in outdoor sprinklers and hoses are a few ways to reduce your water use. Older appliances such as washing machines and dishwashers can also add up to higher bills and may be worth replacing if they are past their prime.
But how can you evaluate your usage and determine where you can cut it? Here are some apps that can help.
Dropcountr
Dropcountr is an app that contacts your utility provider and provides you with information directly from your local water company. This app will help you track usage and notify you of power surges potentially caused by leakage. It’s not available everywhere, so check the app to see if your area is covered. This app has been around for over a decade, so many of the bugs have been ironed out, but since its scope is limited, it’s not for everyone.
Eye on the water
You can use Eye on Water if you live in California, New Mexico and Hawaii, among other places. This app will help you monitor your water consumption, identify trends, and create a personalized plan to save water. It connects to your water utility to provide information about your water usage and allows you to see both short-term and long-term usage reports. It is not available everywhere, but covers many utility providers. To find out if your area is covered, download the app and enter your postcode.
Water Footprint Calculator
This free online app will ask you a series of questions about your daily activities and then calculate your overall water footprint based on your geographic location, habits, and even what food you eat. It can generate a report of your water consumption, including information about indoor and outdoor water use, as well as what they call “virtual” water use, which is best defined as the indirect use of water from food and products that You are buying. While the last category won’t help you save on your water bill, the first two will, so it’s worth a try if you want to get a general idea of all the ways you can use water in your home. The Water Footprint Calculator does not collect data through your utility, so it will only be useful if you answer all the questions accurately.
Bath timer
Using an app that gamifies taking shorter showers can be a fun way to use less water and save on your water bill. You start by setting yourself a goal; The timer will chime, alerting you to the next steps along the way. The idea is to try to reduce your shower time in the long run. This app can be especially helpful for kids who like to take long showers, but adults can use gamification to change their habits too .
Your local water utility’s app
Some municipalities have their own water monitoring apps that can be connected to your utility account, while others connect to a larger app platform to help you save water. A good place to start is to check your local water utility’s website or your city or county’s website for information about available apps or other water conservation programs.
Smart Water Monitors/Leak Detectors
Finally, if you have a smart water meter , you can use it in conjunction with an app to monitor your personal water consumption in real time. Once you install a smart device, it can tell you how much water you’re currently using and provide you with a report of your water consumption over time. This can help you detect leaks and save on your water bills by identifying commonly used appliances and habits. Smart water monitors can also shut off your water supply if a leak is detected to save you from flooding.