Save RO 20 on water bill

By Fahad Al Ghadani — MUSCAT: March 7 - Customers can save as much as RO 20 per month on their water bills if they heed 11 simple tips, according to the Public Authority for Electricity and Water (PAEW). The guidelines, part of an ongoing water conservation campaign pursued by the Authority, have been disseminated to households and customers via Twitter and other social media platforms. By acting on these simple pieces of advice, a modest-sized household can save as much as 335 gallons of potable water per day which amounts to a saving of RO 20 per month.

The advisory offers guidance on how water-dependent activities in the household, such as bathing, dish-washing, clothes washing and so, may ideally be carried out with a view to save water. Water savings can be as high as 15–25 gallons per clothes-washing cycle if the machine is filled with soiled clothes to its optimum capacity. Likewise, around 12 gallons of water can be saved if bathing time is reduced to five minutes. Other tips include avoiding unnecessarily use of flush; covering your swimming pool to reduce evaporation and thereby save 78 gallons; running your dishwater only when you have a full load (save 33 gallons); shutting the tap when brushing your teeth; limiting water use to one and half gallon for ablutions; fixing leaking taps and installing water sprinklers at the right places to avoid waste (save around 65 gallons per day in the process). Consumers can also save a hefty 102 gallons when they choose to use a pail when washing their cars instead of a gushing water hose.

Khalid al Shukaili, who worries about his substantial monthly water bill, says the water conservation tips offer a sensible pathway to saving money. “We fail to realise that our wasteful habits is costing us at the end of the month.  With the Authority’s simple guidelines, I can cut down on my monthly water bills, and use the saved amount to pay off other household costs.” Jasim al Harthi, a resident of Muscat, said the advisory from the PAEW has opened his eyes to the carelessness with which a commodity as valuable as potable water is being handled at home. “Our water bills have been rising every month although we are just two people – my wife and I – living in this moderate sized apartment.  But with these guidelines, we intend to cut down on our water consumption and thereby reduce our water bills as well,” Jasim said, while voicing the hope that schools would try to instill these conservation tips in children as well.