How to save on water — practical ways to lower your bills
Practical tips on how to reduce water bills. Water saving at home, aerators, rainwater and conscious habits that will reduce your expenses.
9 min czytaniaHow much does water cost in Poland?
The average price of water with sewerage in Poland is about 12-18 PLN/m³. An average family (4 people) uses 12-16 m³ monthly, which results in bills of 150-290 PLN/month. Annually, this amounts to even 3,500 PLN — an amount worth optimizing.
Where does water leak away?
Highest consumption at home:
| Activity | Usage per time |
|---|---|
| Bath in bathtub | 120-180 l |
| Shower (5 min) | 50-80 l |
| Toilet flushing | 6-9 l |
| Washing (1 cycle) | 40-60 l |
| Hand dishwashing | 20-40 l |
| Dishwasher | 10-15 l |
Simple ways to save
1. Aerators on taps
An aerator (aerator) costs 10-30 PLN and reduces water flow by 30-50% without losing comfort. By mixing water with air, it gives the impression of a strong stream. Install on every tap — payback within a month.
2. Shower instead of bath
A shower uses 2-3x less water than a bathtub. Additional tip: buy a shower timer and limit yourself to 4-5 minutes.
Shower head with restrictor — 50-100 PLN, reduces flow to 6-8 l/min (standard is 12-15 l/min).
3. Toilet flush with two buttons
Modern toilet flushes have two buttons: 3 l and 6 l. Replacing an old flush (using 9 l) with a dual-function one saves 30-40% water on flushing.
4. Dishwasher instead of hand washing
Paradoxically, a dishwasher uses 2-3x less water than washing under running water. Turn it on when fully loaded.
5. Leak repair
A dripping tap wastes 5,000-15,000 liters annually. A leaking flush — even more. Replacing a seal costs pennies and saves dozens of PLN annually.
6. Washing and dishwashing
- Wash with full drum — one wash costs the same amount of water regardless of the amount of clothes
- Use eco programs — longer, but use less water and energy
- Don't rinse dishes before putting them in the dishwasher — modern dishwashers can handle it
Rainwater — free water
Collecting rainwater
A rainwater tank (1000-5000 l) is an investment of 500-3000 PLN. Rainwater is suitable for:
- Garden watering
- Car washing
- Toilet flushing (with proper installation)
In Poland, from a 100 m² roof you can collect 60,000-80,000 liters of rainwater annually.
Grants
Many municipalities offer grants for retention tanks — check the "Moja Woda" program (up to 6,000 PLN co-financing).
Garden — the biggest water consumer
- Water in the morning or evening — less evaporation
- Mulching — a mulch layer reduces evaporation by 50%
- Drip irrigation — 2-4x more efficient than sprinklers
- Native plants — require less watering
How much can you save?
By implementing the above changes, a typical 4-person family can reduce water consumption by 30-40%:
- Annual savings: 1,000-1,500 PLN
- Investment (aerators, head, flush): about 200-400 PLN
- Payback: 2-4 months
How Freenance can help
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