Many people are shocked the first time they receive their water and sewage bill in the mail. So often, we view water as “free” and so easily accessible we rarely stop and think about how much water actually costs.
While costs vary due to the location you are in and water usage, typically the monthly cost of a 1-2-bedroom apartment is going to range between $40-$50 dollars a month.
How Much Is A Typical Apartment Water Bill?
Obviously, the more water you use, the more you are going to have to pay to whoever is providing the complex with the water. A single person in an apartment is going to use less water than an active family of 4.
How much your water bill costs also is going to depend on personal habits as well. If you take long showers, leave the water running in the sink while you wash your teeth, or run a lot of loads of dishes and clothes, your costs are going to go up. We will go over some ways that you can lower your monthly water bill below.
A typical water bill, for 1-2 people in an apartment is generally going to run you between $40-$50 dollars a month.
While this may not seem like that big of a bill, many utilities bill quarterly, not monthly, and a $100 dollar plus water bill can really hurt the wallet if you are not expecting it.
Do Apartments Pay For Water?
Unless the lease for your apartment specifically says that they pay for Water, then you, as the tenant, are responsible.
There ARE some apartment complexes out there, typically higher-end apartments, which have all utilities and other services such as trash and electrical, included in with the monthly price of the apartment.
Typically, though, you as the tenant are responsible for your water bill.
How Much Does An Hour Shower Cost?
According to the calculator on OmniCalculator, a typical 1-hour show is going to run you about $2.04.
The price of your water should be shown directly on your water bill, and how much you used during the month or quarter you were billed for. If your cost per liter or gallon is more or less than what is shown on the calculator, you can easily change it and get a more accurate result.
More urban areas are going to cost more per gallon than areas where water is more abundant and doesn’t need to be treated as much.
Additionally, the more people you have living in your apartment, the more water is going to be used. A family of 4 is going to use a lot more water than a single college student.
What the calculator DOES show you is how much your water consumption is going to cost you during a particular time period. Also, if you have a number of people in your house, you are going to have to multiply that use by however many people are in your apartment. The more people means the higher your water bill is going to be.
Check out the calculator to see approximately how much your monthly bill will be.
Why Is My Water Bill So High?
If you think your water bill is too high, there are several things you can do.
The first thing is to make sure that there is nothing leaking in your apartment that might be costing you more water. This would include things like the toilet and your sinks. These things can leak an extraordinary amount of water, which is going to cost you as each drop goes out.
You also need to see if you live in a desert area or highly urban area where water tends to cost more because it is less accessible, and costs more to treat the water. These reasons will also cause your water bill to go up.
The third reason your water bill may be high is due to your personal habits. If you are prone to taking long showers, each minute the water stays on is costing you more money. If you run your dishwasher at only a half load or your washing machine with only a few clothes in it, that is going to cost you more money as well.
Getting your first water bill in the mail may be all the impetus you need to take a closer look at your water usage habits.
How Can I Lower The Water Bill In My Apartment?
The first thing you can do to lower your water bill is to look at your water usage habits.
WASH FEWER LOADS OF CLOTHES – Make sure when you do your laundry that you are washing full loads when you do. This may be harder to do if you are really active or work out a lot. Your clothes can start to smell and it can be hard to get the smell out if you leave them sitting around. But as much as you can, limit the number of loads of laundry you do. You will also be saving money on your electrical bill by doing this as well.
RUN FEWER LOADS OF DISHES – Virtually every apartment has a dishwasher, and while that magic machine is the easiest way to do your dishes, beware that every time you run a load, you are going to be using quite a bit of water. Try to conserve the water by prewashing your dishes and running them through your dishwasher only when you have a full dishwasher.
TAKE SHORTER SHOWERS – This may seem like a no-brainer, but it can be surprising how long of showers you take if you actually stop and time it. Some people simply take longer to shower, while others use it as a nice relaxing time they can unwind and just have their thoughts to themselves. You will probably be more conscious of how long of showers you take once you receive your first water bill.
MAKE SURE THERE ARE NO LEAKS – A leaky toilet or sink can literally run gallons of water, and your money, straight down the drain. Usually, it is fairly easy to check for leaks by just listening for a drip or a noise coming from your toilet and are usually fairly easy to fix. If you need, call your maintenance guy for your apartment complex and have him come and take a look at your issue. 5 minutes could save you 15% or more on your water bill.
While your monthly water bill is going to directly depend on how much water your use, the typical monthly water bill for an apartment is going to run you between $40-$50.
