Save Water & Lower Your Bill

Water Saving Tools and Resources

Water Use Calculator

This tool helps you calculate approximately how much water you use each day. It also shows you which water uses in your home are efficient and which are not and offers simple conservation tips.

Drip Calculator

Use this online calculator from the American Water Works Association to estimate your water waste and see how much you could be saving.

Know Your H20 Guide

This detailed guide from Tacoma Water includes water use facts, conservation tips, resources and information on water-efficient appliances and products.

 

Ways to Save Water

Fix and Prevent Leaks

The average American home wastes about 10,000 gallons of water per year, mostly due to small leaks. That is enough to fill a backyard swimming pool! Fortunately, it is easy to prevent most leaks once you know what to do.

Learn more about finding and fixing leaks.

Install a High-Efficiency Toilet

High-efficiency toilets use as little as 1 gallon of water or less per flush compared with older models that use 3.5-5 gallons per flush. If you have an older toilet, replacing it with an efficient model would save up to 2,400 gallons of water per month and reduce your annual water bill by about $78. When shopping for a high-efficiency toilet, be sure to look for the WaterSense label.

Install a Water-Efficient Showerhead

By installing efficient showerheads, a family of four could save 3,600 gallons of water and $60 in utility costs per year. New, efficient showerheads use 1.5 to 2 gallons of water per minute, while showerheads manufactured before 1994 use 2.75 to 8 gallons per minute.

To get your free water-efficient showerhead, fill out our online form.

Use Faucet Aerators

Faucet aerators screw on to the end of your faucet and mix air with the water flow to reduce water use. Efficient faucets with an aerator use just half a gallon per minute and costs you 80 cents per month, while standard faucets using 2.5 gallons per minute can cost you about four dollars per month.

To get your free aerator, fill out our online form.

Try a Newer Dishwasher

Newer, more efficient dishwashers use as little as 3 gallons of water per cycle or less, compared with older models that can use up to 14. When doing dishes, make the most of each load by filling the dishwasher to capacity. If you wash dishes by hand, filling the sink and adding soap rather than running the water as you wash saves a significant amount of water.

Upgrade Your Clothes Washer

The average household washes 300 loads of laundry each year. Using a new, more efficient model that takes 10 gallons per load can reduce your water use by 75%.

Outdoor Watering and Yard Care

During the summer, water demand in our area increases by about 60%, mostly due to outdoor water use. Unfortunately, about half of this water is wasted due to overwatering. To help reduce water waste, and lower your water bill, you only need to water one inch per week or you may want to install an efficient sprinkler system.

For practical tips on maintaining healthy lawns, shrubs and gardens, including how to properly install and use a sprinkler system, see the following resources:

• Installing a Drip Irrigation System
• Natural Lawn Care for Western Washington
• Natural Pest, Weed and Disease Control
• Healthy Landscapes for a Healthy Environment
• Growing Healthy Soil
• Watering Wisely
• Tacoma Report Yard Watering Tips

Smart Irrigation Rebate

Tacoma Water customers may be eligible for a rebate to upgrade or purchase a new WaterSense smart irrigation controller and hose timer. These products are smart choices to help you reduce water waste and lower your utility bill.

A smart irrigation controller automatically adjusts your watering schedule according to the weather and many provide convenient access via mobile applications. Hose timers easily automate your hose-end sprinklers, drip irrigation system, or soaker hose, for improved consistency.

Learn more about our rebates:

• Residential Smart Irrigation Rebate
• Business Smart Irrigation Rebate