My water bill was $ 8.00 :) (taxes, family)

[molochai2580]

Wow if that's including fees your lucky.

My water bill break down is as follows:

water usage charge................... 2.38
Water customer charge.............. 5.26
Fire hydrant charge................... 1.16
state mandated water charge...... .53
residential waste waste use......... 7.00
waste water customer charge....... 9.38
storm water utility fee................. 3.09
Storm water customer charge....... 2.50

Total per month......................... 31.30

as you can see customer charges and fees are 21.92 a month.

[mjd07]

Originally Posted by WannaliveinGreenville

Thanks When I had little ones , with all the baths and cooking , showers it was around $ 30-40 I believe .

Here is what I do : I shut the water off when brushing my teeth.

When I wash my hands I don't run the water too long , just enough to get the soap off.

( Alot of these ideas I got here ! )

I bought the 39 cent drinking water . Some suggested the city charges 2 cents for water so its more half and half now.

Showers use less water but what I did was : I plugged the stopper and ran a shower to see how much filled up the tub . Thats the amount for a bath. Its not neck deep water but it still soakable and you get clean

I try not to flush the toilet unless you do your business in there. Some people flush insects and misl items using the toilet as a trash can of sorts. I only flush when necessary.

I did buy paper plates but some suggested that was not a green thing to do so I am using those up. The paper plates were to lesson the amount of water when washing dishes. But mostly as an experiment to see how much water I would use..

Hi again,

Please forgive the delay in responding. I did not see this response until today. I'm still learning how to use this site.

Those are great ideas. I don't really have a way to gauge how much we're using because we're in an apartment, temporarily, but I will keep track once we move into our house.

I wasn't aware that paper plates were not "okay." I only use them for picnics and when there are neighborhood kids over to cut down on breakage. I thought they were okay as long as they were from a recycled product.

I have a personal question for you (please disregard if it's too weird). Are you married? How did you get your spouse "on the program"? My Dh is a wonderful guy so this is a small matter, comparitively. However, he leaves the water running while brushing his teeth and shaving. He is the ONLY one in the family that wears shoes on the carpet so there is definitely more water usage for carpet cleaning. He routinely uses the washer and dishwasher when they do not have full loads. However, he is getting better about not buying the first item on the shelf and comparison shopping, but he does not see the "waste" in things we buy that don't necessarily "add up" except over time.

Any hints for me? It's less about changing him (which a person can't do, anyway) and more about us both setting good examples for our children.

[johnnytang24]

I find it shocking that people willingly track filth all over their own house. There's only one time I can think of that I wanted to deliberately wear shoes indoors.

Sorry, I have no suggestions.

[mjd07]

Originally Posted by johnnytang24

I find it shocking that people willingly track filth all over their own house. There's only one time I can think of that I wanted to deliberately wear shoes indoors.

Sorry, I have no suggestions.

He does not see it that way at all. One time I bought a really pretty rug to go in the kitchen we had redone. I had it less than 48 hours before he tracked wet, dirty snow all over it. It's not deliberate and he's generally not nasty (He was in the military and still can fold his shirts into the size of a postage stamp. Ha Ha). Neither of us were raised in homes where removing shoes was required, so I know it's just a habit. I am more conscientious of it because I have asthma. Tracking grass, pollen and other things inside can cause havoc on my lungs for days.

Did you ever see that episode of "Tales from the Crypt" or "The New Outer Limits" where the guy lived in an ALL white house, with white furniture and appliances and everything because he was germphobic? It was gross because it ended with all kinds of nasty bugs coming out of every possible place infesting his whole house. I think of that show every time I think of what is being tracked on the carpet.

Fortunately, the house we are buying has hardwood floors on the first floor so I will just have to replace area rugs every six months or so.

[WannaliveinGreenville]

Originally Posted by molochai2580

Wow if that's including fees your lucky.

My water bill break down is as follows:

water usage charge................... 2.38
Water customer charge.............. 5.26
Fire hydrant charge................... 1.16
state mandated water charge...... .53
residential waste waste use......... 7.00
waste water customer charge....... 9.38
storm water utility fee................. 3.09
Storm water customer charge....... 2.50

Total per month......................... 31.30

as you can see customer charges and fees are 21.92 a month.

Thanks What a great breakdown. My bill only shows the cu feet of water usage.... Unless they bill the fees into all that. It does not break down like your beautiful bill does ! hehe

[WannaliveinGreenville]

Originally Posted by mjd07

Hi again,

Please forgive the delay in responding. I did not see this response until today. I'm still learning how to use this site.

Those are great ideas. I don't really have a way to gauge how much we're using because we're in an apartment, temporarily, but I will keep track once we move into our house.

I wasn't aware that paper plates were not "okay." I only use them for picnics and when there are neighborhood kids over to cut down on breakage. I thought they were okay as long as they were from a recycled product.

I have a personal question for you (please disregard if it's too weird). Are you married? How did you get your spouse "on the program"? My Dh is a wonderful guy so this is a small matter, comparitively. However, he leaves the water running while brushing his teeth and shaving. He is the ONLY one in the family that wears shoes on the carpet so there is definitely more water usage for carpet cleaning. He routinely uses the washer and dishwasher when they do not have full loads. However, he is getting better about not buying the first item on the shelf and comparison shopping, but he does not see the "waste" in things we buy that don't necessarily "add up" except over time.

Any hints for me? It's less about changing him (which a person can't do, anyway) and more about us both setting good examples for our children.

Well actually they were styrofoam * 50 lashes with a wet noodle for me * I know I don't normally buy styrofoam anything but it was a buy one get one free and I won't be doing that again. I thought if I had disposable plates ( at the time ) it just saves alot of hassle and not to mention water.

I am not married. I do have a bf. We are amazingly in synche (sp ) with agreements on not wasting power , water and the like. He does not live with me. So its just me and kitty. If I had other adults in the house or little ones I am positive I could not have acheived the same saving results as everyone is different in their conservation beliefs.

I go nuts if I wear shoes in the house. Not to mention tracking things inside. But everyone is different

I have always checked prices because if I can get a good deal I am going to try.

Gosh , hints for you ? What kind of hints ? Water Saving ? I have TONS of electric saving ideas too hehe !

[Gandalara]

Originally Posted by mjd07

Did you ever see that episode of "Tales from the Crypt" or "The New Outer Limits" where the guy lived in an ALL white house, with white furniture and appliances and everything because he was germphobic? It was gross because it ended with all kinds of nasty bugs coming out of every possible place infesting his whole house. I think of that show every time I think of what is being tracked on the carpet.

It was Creepshow! "They're Creeping Up on You," EG Marshall with a fear of germs and bugs. The bugs won.

Back to your regularly scheduled topic .....

[Rhenzanite]

Originally Posted by johnnytang24

I find it shocking that people willingly track filth all over their own house. There's only one time I can think of that I wanted to deliberately wear shoes indoors.

Sorry, I have no suggestions.

We live near the beach, which means a backyard composed of sand. Combine that with hardwood floors and two very active dogs and within 10 minutes of sweeping and mopping the floor, it looks like the dunes inside

Wearing shoes is a sensible compromise in our house

[lilypad]

I live in a socialist state, doesn't matter the usage, there is a "fee". The bill has doubled in the 1 1/2 yr I have lived here, from $30-40/mos. to $60-70/mos. Something about building a "bike trail" around the city. May be time to move on...

[texdav]

our also has a minium tht would never allow for 8.00 dollars on water.