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Sing in the Shower and Save Some Green

By Author Tim Caldwell

Posted on Last updated:

Once you make a plan to start conserving water in and around your home, you should consider installing low-flow showerheads to reduce water waste while the family takes their daily showers.

Of course, it is good practice to take shorter showers to prevent your money from being washed down the drain. A low-flow showerhead can also keep too much water from escaping while family members freshen up.

Showerhead Water Use :

The best way to eliminate wasting H2O would be to limit water usage, but no one should have to skip bathing to do so. Here are a few ways to save water and cash in the shower.

  • Install a low-flow showerhead. A low-flow showerhead can reduce the amount of water used while showering by about 5 gallons a minute. This is one of the easiest ways to reduce water consumption in the shower.
  • Install an attachment that stops water flow. Older showerheads can be fitted with an attachment to stop water flow while you lather up. There will be no problem with losing water temperature; so you can get wet and then soap and lather up without a constant stream of water flowing down the drain.
  • Shorten your shower time. If you aren’t quite ready to replace your showerhead, you can instruct everyone in the household to reduce their time in the shower. By taking a shorter shower (reducing shower time by 5 minutes) can save about 20 gallons of water.
  • Don’t fill the tub when taking baths. There are some people that prefer baths over showers. If anyone in your family falls into that category, instruct them to fill the tub with about 2 to 3 inches of water instead of filling up the bathtub.

Showerhead Water Savings

Replacing your current showerhead with a new model that uses 2.5 gallons per minute (gpm) may or may not save water in your home. Many people already have a 2.5 gpm (or less) showerhead installed and others throttle their shower down to a flow rate below 2.5 gpm out of personal preference. The national average showering flow rate was measured to be 2.22 gpm.

Nevertheless, installing a new showerhead is still a good idea and can result in water savings, particularly if you live in an older house and have what appears to be an older showerhead. Showerheads are inexpensive (starting at less than $5) and can be a good way to save water in your home.


With an on/off switch, you can turn off the water while you soap, shampoo, or shave without losing your water temperature.

If you are looking for further water savings in the shower, consider taking shorter showers. If your showerhead uses 2.5 gpm, then you can save 2.5 gallons of water for every minute you reduce you showering. Consider placing a bucket or plastic basin in the shower with you to collect excess water. This water can then be used to water plants outdoors.


The Niagara Conservation Shower Coach can help you to take shorter showers.

Wastewater reduction is especially important for homeowners with septic systems. Reducing wastewater relieves stress on septic systems and can extend the life of this expensive system.


Shower buckets like the one pictured above can be used to reduce wastewater and water plants outside.

By making a few of the changes listed above in your household, you can save money on your water bill and stop contributing to the draining of environment’s water supply. It’s not hard to make the changes and once you do, you will be surprised at how much money and water you can save.

Tim Caldwell
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