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Updated October 13, 2026 · 5-minute read

How to lower your water bill

A high water bill is often a hidden leak. Start with the free leak checks below, then the few-dollar fixes. Behind on the bill? Skip to getting help.

The short version

  1. Check for leaks with your water meter and the toilet dye test. Both are free.
  2. Fixed a leak? Ask the utility for a leak adjustment (a credit on the high bill).
  3. Cut use cheaply: a faucet aerator or low-flow showerhead costs a few dollars and installs by hand.
  4. Behind? Call the utility before the due date and ask about payment plans and assistance programs.

1. Find hidden leaks (free)

The EPA says the average household's leaks waste more than 9,300 gallons a year, and about 1 in 10 homes has leaks wasting 50 gallons or more a day.

  • Meter test: turn off every faucet and appliance that uses water. Write down the number on your water meter, wait about two hours without using any water, then check again. If it moved, you have a leak somewhere.
  • Toilet dye test: put a few drops of food coloring in the toilet tank. If color shows up in the bowl within 10 minutes without flushing, the toilet is leaking. Flush right after so it doesn't stain. The usual cause is a worn flapper, a cheap part at any hardware store.
  • Look and listen: dripping faucets and showerheads, a toilet that runs or refills on its own, wet spots under sinks, and outdoor hoses and spigots.

2. Ask for a leak adjustment

Many water utilities give a one-time credit on a bill that spiked because of a leak, once you fix it. Call and ask: "I had a leak that's now fixed. Do you offer a leak adjustment, and what do you need from me?" Keep the receipt for the part or the plumber, and take a photo of the meter before and after.

3. Cheap fixes that cut use

  • Faucet aerators. WaterSense bathroom faucets and aerators use at most 1.5 gallons a minute, 30% or more less than a standard faucet. The EPA says an aerator can cost as little as a few dollars, and the average family can save about 700 gallons a year.
  • Low-flow showerhead. Standard showerheads use 2.5 gallons a minute; WaterSense ones use 2.0 or less. The EPA says the average family can save about 2,700 gallons a year and over 330 kWh of electricity, since you heat less water.
  • Run full loads of dishes and laundry, and shorten showers by a couple of minutes.
  • Fix running toilets fast. A running toilet can waste far more than a dripping faucet.

Where to find these cheaply

Most of these cost a few dollars at a hardware store, dollar store or big-box store, so check there first. If you'd rather order online, these links open Amazon search results so you can compare prices:

Partner links: As an Amazon Associate, Bill Help Now earns from qualifying purchases. It costs you nothing extra and never changes our advice. How we make money.

4. Behind on your water bill

The federal water bill program (LIHWAP) ended in 2024, so most help now comes from your water utility and local groups:

  • Call before the due date. Ask for a payment plan, and ask: "Do you have a customer assistance or discount program?" Many cities and water companies have one.
  • Dial 2-1-1 for local charities and churches that help with utility bills.
  • Got a shutoff notice? Use the same steps as for power and gas: what to do about a shutoff notice. Tell the utility if someone at home is seriously ill.
  • Renters: if water is included in your rent or billed by your landlord, a leak may be the landlord's job to fix. Tell them in writing.

More ways to lower your bills

Answer 6 questions in our free Lower My Bills tool, and see programs and phone numbers for all 50 states and Washington, DC.

Want it all on paper?

The Hard Month Kit adds printable call scripts for utilities, a hardship letter and a 30-day cash plan.

The Hard Month Kit · $9Free Budget Starter

We sell these. They never change the advice above. How we make money.

Sources

Checked October 13, 2026. Programs change their rules. Confirm with the program before you rely on a date or amount. Found something wrong? Email help@billhelpnow.com.

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