Trump wants to ‘make America's showers great again’ — but water bills are boiling over in parts of the country. 5 ways to save on your water bill

Where water prices are rising

The average American uses about 82 gallons of water every day, and the average family spends more than $1,000 on water every year, according to the EPA.

The Bank of America recently spotted that water bills are rising much faster in certain states.

Last year, water bills in the Mid-Atlantic, Pacific, and West North Central regions rose faster than the national rate. The Mid-Atlantic (New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania) saw the biggest price jump in 2024, with a year-over-year increase of 9.5%, compared to the national increase of 6.8%.

“It’s possible that labor-related inflation and seasonal charges due to weather in these states are more directly passed onto to customers,” said the report. “Various factors, such as infrastructure age, localized climate risks, and respective state policies, can influence regional water rate disparities.”

The Midwest was the only region with water bills higher than the overall U.S. level for the past two years, and the Northeast was the only region to be consecutively lower.

Higher-income households saw the biggest increases, but lower-income households typically pay more as a percentage of their income.

“And with local utilities contending with rising operational costs caused in part by climate change-induced shifts, more households could fall into ‘water debt,’” noted the report.

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How can average consumers keep their water bills low?

With eased regulations on water flow — combined with rising prices and growing water shortages — it’s possible those bills will jump even higher. But there are measures you can take to keep your water bill from boiling over.

Simple measures include taking shorter showers or cutting back on baths. The EPA says a full bathtub uses up to 70 gallons of water while a five-minute shower uses 10 to 25 gallons. You can also turn off the tap while you’re brushing your teeth or lathering soap on your hands.

You could also look into installing water-saving fixtures, including faucets, showerheads and toilets. Products with the WaterSense label are more water-efficient (and equally as effective) than standard models — and can save you hundreds of dollars a year. Also check for leaky taps and toilets, which can literally lead to money down the drain.

While there’s an upfront cost, replacing older dishwashers and washing machines with Energy Star-certified appliances can save you money in the long run. For example, an Energy Star-certified dishwasher saves about 5,800 gallons over the course of its lifetime — and only costs about $50 a year to run. You may be eligible for a rebate to offset the cost of purchasing energy-efficient appliances.

If you have a lawn, water it before sunrise or after sunset (during the day, the water could evaporate in the sun rather than sinking into the soil). Also, use sprinklers with low-flow sprinkler heads or invest in smart irrigation controllers so you can adjust your watering levels based on weather and other factors.

You could even swap out your grass for native or drought-tolerant plants — known as xeriscaping — which could lead to substantial savings down the road.