What are the best ways to reduce my water bill in Phoenix?

The changes that save the most water are, in order, leaks, outdoor watering, old fixtures and daily habits. Start with leaks. EPA's Fix a Leak Week page says the average household's leaks can waste more than 9,300 gallons of water a year, and that fixing easily corrected leaks can save about 10 percent on a water bill. The City of Phoenix says the average household loses more than 10,000 gallons of water each year through leaks. Leaks are the only item on this list that costs you money and gives you nothing back, so they come first.

Next, look at the yard. EPA says outdoor water use accounts for more than 30 percent of total household water use on average, and can be as much as 60 percent in arid regions. Phoenix is an arid region. EPA also says as much as 50 percent of the water used outdoors can be lost to wind, evaporation and runoff caused by inefficient irrigation, and that an automatic irrigation system that is not properly maintained can waste up to 25,000 gallons a year. A sprinkler head that sprays the sidewalk or a drip line with a split tube is a bill problem, not just a yard problem.

Then look at fixtures. EPA says WaterSense labeled products are 20 percent more water-efficient than standard models and perform as well or better. Its numbers for an average family:

• Replacing all old, inefficient toilets with WaterSense labeled models can save 13,000 gallons of water a year.
• Replacing showerheads with WaterSense labeled models can save more than 2,700 gallons a year.
• Replacing a clock-based irrigation controller with a WaterSense labeled controller can cut an average home's irrigation use by up to 30 percent and save up to 15,000 gallons a year.

Finally, habits. Habits save the least, but they cost nothing.

Leaks are the most common reason a bill runs higher than it should. Use EPA's tips as a checklist:

• Read the meter. Check your water meter before and after a two-hour period when no water is being used. EPA says if the meter changes at all, you probably have a leak. Our water meter leak test page walks through it.
• Test the toilets. Put a few drops of food coloring in the tank. EPA says if any color shows up in the bowl after 10 minutes, you have a leak. Flush right after so the dye does not stain the tank. A worn flapper is a common cause, and EPA advises replacing the flapper at least every five years. See how to replace a toilet flapper.
• Check faucets and showerheads. EPA says a faucet that drips once per second can waste more than 3,000 gallons a year, and a showerhead leaking 10 drips a minute wastes more than 500 gallons a year. Our dripping faucet page shows the usual repair.
• Walk the yard. EPA says a hole in an irrigation line only 1/32 of an inch wide, about the thickness of a dime, can waste about 6,300 gallons a month. Look for soggy spots and hissing valves, and see how to fix drip irrigation.

If the meter moves and you cannot find a leak, it may be hidden in a wall or under the slab. Our high water bill with no visible leak page covers the next steps, and how plumbers find hidden leaks explains what a plumber will do.

Landscape watering is the largest lever in the Valley, so it deserves a plan. A few points from EPA:

• A well-managed irrigation system can cut a household's irrigation use by about 15 percent, or nearly 7,600 gallons a year, according to EPA.
• EPA recommends hiring a professional certified by a WaterSense labeled irrigation program when you install or audit an irrigation system.
• Check the system each season, and run a manual cycle so you can watch every zone.

Phoenix also offers a landscape guide and a plant list for the Arizona desert through its Water Services Department. Native and desert-adapted plants need less water than turf once they are established. The city has its own water rules and a drought plan, which we cover on our Phoenix water restrictions page.

The City's Save Water page lists several free or low-cost programs. Among them are a free efficiency consultation at your home or business, a free customizable Water-Wise Kit with indoor and outdoor tools, conservation incentives for homes and businesses, a leak-finding guide, and a landscape plant list for the Arizona desert. Phoenix also has a Mayor's Save Water Pledge and workshops and videos on saving water.

Rebates change from year to year, so check the current list before you buy anything. Our Phoenix water-saving rebates page explains what the city has offered and how to confirm current details. For rules on which fixtures you may install, see low-flow fixture requirements in Arizona.

These habits come from EPA's Start Saving Water guidance and its water facts page:

• Turn off the tap while brushing your teeth or shaving. EPA says turning the tap off while brushing can save 8 gallons a day.
• Run the dishwasher only when it is full. EPA says this can eliminate one load of dishes a week and save nearly 320 gallons a year.
• Scrape plates instead of rinsing them before loading the dishwasher.
• Keep a pitcher of drinking water in the refrigerator instead of running the faucet until the water is cold.
• If you wash dishes by hand, plug the sink or use a basin. EPA says letting the faucet run for five minutes while washing dishes can waste 10 gallons of water.

None of these will change a bill dramatically alone. Together, they add up over a year, and they cost nothing.

A good order of attack for a busy household is simple. In week one, do the meter test and the toilet dye test, since they take about ten minutes and find the biggest wasters. In week two, walk the yard with the sprinklers running and look for spray on hardscape, broken heads and puddles. In week three, look at the fixtures and decide which are old enough to replace. In week four, pick two habits and stick to them. By the following bill, you will have a clear picture of what changed, and you will know whether the rest of the list is worth your time.

Renters and people in condos have fewer options, but they can still do the leak checks, report problems to the property manager in writing, and keep their own habits tight. A running toilet in a rental is worth reporting even if you do not pay the water bill directly, because the cost usually finds its way back to the tenants.

### How do I know if it is working?

Watch your bill and your meter. A Phoenix bill shows your meter readings and a 13-month history of monthly water use in gallons, according to the City's guide to reading your bill. Use that history to compare months. If a month jumps and nothing changed in your household, look for a leak. Our how to read your Phoenix water and sewer bill page explains each line.

One more tip: EPA suggests checking your water use in a colder month such as January or February. If a family of four uses more than 12,000 gallons per month then, there could be serious leaks.

If you have worked through the list and your usage is still high, or the meter still moves with every fixture off, call a licensed plumber. HQ Plumbing & Air is licensed and insured, gives free estimates and upfront pricing, and answers 24/7. For a fixture-by-fixture look inside the home, see how to conserve water inside your home.