Fixed Cost Reduction Techniques | Water Bill Edition: Look Forward to Seeing Your Bill! Small Tips to Lower Your Water Costs

Have you ever wondered, "Why is my monthly water bill so high?"

Because water is essential to daily life, it can slowly put a strain on your household budget before you even realize it.

I used to just give up and think, "Well, it can't be helped," but once I started making some adjustments, I definitely saw a change in the billed amount.

In this article, I will introduce the "water bill reduction techniques" that I actually implemented and found effective.

Why is it so high? Common habits that inflate your water bill

We use water in every aspect of our lives.

Baths, showers, laundry, washing dishes, washing the car, brushing teeth...
With just a little carelessness, your usage can increase in the blink of an eye.

For example, do you do any of the following?

In my home, the main source of frustration was my husband washing the car.

He loves his car, so on his days off, he would connect the hose and spray it down to make it shine.

Every time he did that, I would secretly worry, "Is the water bill going to jump up again?"

Even though I thought it was just a part of life and couldn't be helped, I would sigh every time I looked at the monthly bill.

It's not your fault you can't save! The real reason your water bill won't go down

The reason your water bill doesn't go down is actually very simple: it's because "turning it off frequently is a hassle."

While showering, brushing your teeth, or washing dishes...

Even if it's just for a few minutes, or rather, a few dozen seconds of running water, it adds up to a significant amount of money over time.

Moreover, because water is invisible, it's easy to think, "A little bit won't hurt."

This isn't about your personality or a lack of effort; it's becauseit is human nature to put off minor inconveniences.

That is why I realized it is important to create a "system" and set up an environment where you can save naturally.

The culprit behind your water bill is here! What uses the most water in your home?

According to a survey by the Tokyo Metropolitan Bureau of Waterworks (FY2021), the breakdown of water usage in households is as follows.

You can see that baths and toilets alone account for over 60% of the total.

If you focus your efforts here, the effectiveness of saving on your water bill will increase significantly.

After seeing this data, I personally thought, "I'll start by focusing on the areas where I use the most water."

7 tips you can start today to significantly reduce your water bill

1. Switch to a water-saving showerhead

The first thing I adopted was a water-saving showerhead.

Some types can save 30-50% more water than standard ones, and they are easy to install. In my case, this alone led to savings of several hundred yen every month.

2. Make "stopping the water at your fingertips" a habit

Since introducing a water-saving shower, I've been able to make "stopping the water while not in use" a habit.

Before, I would leave the water running the whole time until I rinsed off the soap. But now, I can stop it with one touch, so there is zero stress. I think this saves dozens of liters of water per bath.

3. Reduce the amount of bath water

I used to fill the bathtub with plenty of hot water, but reducing it just a little bit leads to double savings: water and gas costs.

Adults can relax enough without needing to soak up to their shoulders, and it's safer for children when the water is shallower. It was truly killing three birds with one stone.

4. Use a "wash basin + dishwasher" for washing dishes

I used to rinse each dish under running water before putting it in the dishwasher. It was a hassle to turn the faucet off frequently, so I just left the water running.

Instead, I started by filling a wash basin with water to soak the dishes and remove dirt before putting them in the dishwasher. This alone has significantly reduced water usage and also saves time.

For heavily soiled items, I wipe them clean with paper or similar before soaking. It's also environmentally friendly, isn't it?

5. Wash your car the day after it rains

I introduced a somewhat unique solution to my husband's car washing habit.
That is to wash the car the day after it rains.

Since the rain has already loosened some of the dirt, you can wash it efficiently with less water.
My husband was convinced that this was logical, and it significantly reduced our wasteful water usage.

6. Use a cup for brushing your teeth

It is said that if you leave the water running while brushing your teeth, you use as much as 6 liters in just 30 seconds.

We have now switched to a style where we fill a cup with water and rinse our mouths with that.
It is a small effort, but it makes a big difference when added up every day.

7. Use the appropriate flush setting for the toilet

Finally, the toilet is a surprisingly overlooked area.
The flush lever has 'large' and 'small' settings, but do you find yourself choosing 'large' every time out of habit?

Actually, the amount of water used per flush is quite different.
In our home, we make sure to 'use the small flush whenever possible,' which helps us save water every month.

Look forward to next month's bill! The effect of small steps

Saving on water bills is determined more by 'systems' than by 'consciousness'.

By incorporating items like water-saving showerheads, cups, and washbasins, you can naturally prevent excessive water usage.

Furthermore, if you make adjustments in situations involving the whole family, such as washing the car or taking baths, you will see a clear difference in your monthly bill.

Because water bills are a fixed cost that you pay every month, a single instance of saving can lead to a difference of several thousand to tens of thousands of yen a year later.

Start taking small steps today, and get ready to be pleasantly surprised by next month's bill.