Rainy Days and Water Bills

Recently there has been quite a bit of grumbling regarding our water bill in Chicago Heights. With the city in heated negotiations they have generously dropped the service fee. Even then we all have seen an increase in our bills. I've seen some large families complain that their bill has gone up and extra $60 whereas mine increased about $15. My wife, my dog, and myself are the only ones that live in the home and considering that the service fee was dropped that was an exponential increase in the rate. 

While we all hope that city hall can negotiate a fair rate for us we, as residents, can take action and lower our water bill though conservation. Some conservation products are a medium term investment such as rain barrels. With rumors going on that it may take up to 5 years before Chicago Heights can find a new vendor for water, conservation investments don't seem all that impractical. 

Rain barrels are simply that, barrels that collect water run off from you roof. They range in sizes from 30 gallons to 80 gallons and have a hose hook up at the bottom. There are a variety of kits and designs available through the Internet and local retail stores. Some of the more decorative ones cost upwards of $200 and are hardly practical as it would take years to see a return on investment like that. I have seen rain barrels go on craigslist for as low as $40 for a 50 gallon barrel. Also if you are the resourceful, creative, type one can be made for around $15.

If you are going to go the home made route check out the DYI Network website for detailed instructions. 

Although rain water isn't potable (meant for human consumption) it has a variety of uses. Rainwater doesn't contain calcium, chlorine, or lime so it can be used to water plants or the lawn, wash windows, wash the car, and even flush toilets. This type of use could save a homeowner thousands of gallons of water when properly executed. 

Before my grandfather's passing he developed a rain barrel system for his home that was so effective he eliminated his water bill entirely. That is a little bit of a big project for any armature as it required a UV and charcoal filter to create potable water but it shows that the potential is there for any of us to be resourceful even in an suburban environment.