Dramatic increases in water bills expected globally, including South Florida

May 19, 4:04 AMMiami Interfaith Spirituality ExaminerDr. Deb Brown

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AP Photo/Mark Humphrey

Inflation, drought, new taxes, and expensive water projects are among the drivers of higher water bills expected around the world, despite the squeeze already on consumers as a result of the recession. Locally, customers could be facing water bill increases of up to 40% in the following South Florida cities: Plantation, Sunrise, Southwest Ranches, Weston, and parts of Davie. Other local cities that could face higher water bills include Boynton Beach, Cooper City, Dania Beach, Hallandale Beach, Hollywood, Lake Worth, Miramar, and parts of Pembroke Pines.

Other areas of the United States are also preparing for high increases. The City of Camarillo in South California is facing a staggering increase of 70% in their water bill by 2011. In West Virginia, the City of Fairmont requested a 49% increase. Furthermore, landlords around the country are being strained by rental contracts that include water in the monthly rental fees while water prices continue to climb.

Overseas, consumers in Victoria, Australia, are preparing for their water bills to jump as much as 60% over the next three years. And in the UK, churches and community groups are bracing for a whopping 4000% increase in their water bills as a result of a new tax.

If you’re not already conserving water for ecological, scientific, or spiritual reasons, then you might consider saving water now for financial reasons! Here are five cheap, easy things you can do to make a huge difference:

1. Install an updated shower head (usually less than $10), which still provides good water pressure while cutting your shower-water consumption up to 70%. Try to take shorter showers, too.
2. Don’t let the water run while you’re brushing your teeth or shaving. It seems like a small thing, but if you let the water run from a standard faucet, then you’ll be paying for a full gallon of water every 30-60 seconds.
3. Water your yard in the early morning, before the heat of the day causes it to evaporate more quickly.
4. Fix any leaky faucets, which can waste three gallons of water daily.
5. Purchase a shut-off valve for your garden hose and low-flow aerators for every faucet.

Here’s another innovative idea:

Put a plastic bottle or a plastic bag weighted with pebbles and filled with water in your toilet tank. Displacing water in this manner allows you to use less water with each flush. Saves 5 to 10 gallons a day. That's up to 300 gallons a month, even more for large families. Better yet, for even greater savings, replace your water-guzzling five to seven gallon a flush toilet with a one and a half gallon, ultra-low flush model.

Water conservation is good for the planet and now – more than ever—good for the wallet. Let’s work together to conserve water!