How can you cut your water bill?

How to save water at home: start with leaks

A leak wastes water around the clock, even when nobody is using a tap. Of all the water saving tips Singapore households come across, checking the toilet cistern is easy to overlook, because a silent leak makes no sound.

PUB, Singapore's national water agency, says on its water saving items page that silent cistern leaks could waste more than 10 litres of water per hour. To check for one, drop a leak detection tablet into the cistern tank, put the lid back and wait 10 to 20 minutes without flushing. If the water in the bowl turns blue, there is a leak, and you should call a licensed plumber to fix or replace the flushing cistern. Each tablet can be used only once. PUB also lists other signs of a leak: unusually high water bills, the sound of running water or dripping at night, mould, discolouration or peeling paint, and foul odours with no other source.

If your toilet keeps running after a flush, that guide explains what to look at. Taps can leak too: if a tap still drips after you close it firmly, see the leaking tap fix guide.

Thimbles and flow rates

PUB's water saving items page says thimbles reduce excessive flow from taps and shower hoses. PUB recommends them for taps rated below 2 ticks under the Water Efficiency Labelling Scheme (WELS). To measure a tap's flow, PUB suggests collecting the water for 6 seconds and multiplying the amount by 10 to get litres per minute.

A measuring jug and a phone timer are all you need. Test the taps you use most and write down each figure, so you can see which tap runs fastest.

Lower flow is not the same thing as low pressure. If your shower already feels weak before you change anything, read the weak shower pressure guide first, so you do not reduce the flow on a shower that has a different problem.

Choose WELS-rated fittings and appliances

Replacing a tap, cistern or washing machine is a good time to choose a more water-efficient model. PUB's WELS Requirements set out the rules under the Mandatory Water Efficiency Labelling Scheme. Only fittings of 2 ticks and above are allowed for supply and installation. Clothes washing machines are rated from 2 to 4 ticks per washload, and dishwashers are rated per place setting from 1 to 4 ticks, so a household dishwasher carries a rating too.

Before you buy, check the tick label. More ticks mean a higher water efficiency rating, so compare the labels when you are choosing between two models of the same kind.

If a contractor is supplying the tap or cistern, ask which model they plan to install and how many ticks it carries before the work starts. That way you know what you are getting and can ask for a different model if you prefer.

For a closer look at the label itself, the WELS ticks explained post covers how to read it.

Daily habits that help

Once leaks are fixed and fittings are sorted, everyday habits make the next difference. None of these costs anything:

• Take shorter showers.
• Turn off the tap while you brush your teeth or soap your hands.
• Run the washing machine and dishwasher only on full loads.
• Use the half flush on a dual-flush cistern where it is enough.

Small changes like these help reduce water bill charges month after month.

Hot water is worth a thought too, though the saving here is on electricity rather than water. The National Environment Agency (NEA) advises on its energy saving tips page that you switch off the water heater when you do not need hot water. A storage heater keeps using energy while it is switched on, and switching one on 10 to 30 minutes before you shower is enough.

If the bill stays high

If you have fixed the leaks you can see and the bill is still higher than usual, check the water meter. Turn off every tap in your home and make sure the washing machine, dishwasher and any other water-using appliance are not running. Note the figures on the meter, wait a while without using any water, then read it again. If the figures have moved, water is still flowing somewhere, and there is a leak.

Noting each reading with the time makes a change easy to spot. The high water bill guide goes through more checks you can make at home.

If you cannot find the leak or fix it yourself, call a licensed plumber. The price depends on the job, so compare companies on the leak repair page before you choose one.

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