“maybe add some neighborhood comparisons—nothing like a little friendly rivalry to keep people engaged.”
Funny you mention that. When my building started tracking water use by floor, suddenly everyone was talking about it in the elevator. People got weirdly competitive—one guy even bragged about his “record low” shower times. It definitely kept us all thinking about it way longer than I expected. But yeah, once the updates stopped, nobody really mentioned it again. Guess we’re all just wired for that feedback loop.
That’s interesting—competition really does get people invested, at least for a while. I wonder if it’d work the same way if there was actual money on the line, like city payouts. Would folks start cutting corners or just get creative with their “savings”?
WHAT IF YOUR CITY PAID YOU TO USE LESS WATER?
I get where you’re coming from, but honestly, I think most people would just get smarter about it. When we built our place, we had to watch every penny, and it’s surprising how much you can save just by tweaking habits—shorter showers, fixing leaks right away, even collecting rainwater for the garden. Sure, a few folks might try to game the system, but most of us just want to cut costs without sacrificing comfort. If there’s money on the line, I bet people would get creative in good ways.
it’s surprising how much you can save just by tweaking habits—shorter showers, fixing leaks right away, even collecting rainwater for the garden.
That’s true, but honestly, if the city started paying people, I’d go beyond just habits. Here’s what I’d do: first, swap out all the old fixtures for low-flow versions—showerheads, faucets, toilets. Next, install a greywater system to reuse laundry and sink water for irrigation. Rain barrels are good, but a cistern gives you more capacity if you’ve got the space. It’s not just about shorter showers... design tweaks make a bigger dent than most folks realize.
WHAT IF YOUR CITY PAID YOU TO USE LESS WATER?
I get where you’re coming from about design tweaks making a bigger difference. We just finished building our place last year, and honestly, I was shocked at how much the builder tried to upsell us on “eco” features. At first, I thought low-flow toilets and all that were just a gimmick, but after seeing our first water bill, I’m not complaining. The difference is real.
If the city actually started handing out cash for saving water, I’d probably go further too. Right now, I’ve just got the basics—low-flow showerhead, aerators, and we fixed a leaky hose bib that was basically watering the driveway 24/7. But if there was an actual incentive, I’d look into something like a greywater system. The only thing is, it seems like a pain to retrofit unless you’re already tearing stuff up. Maybe I’m just lazy, but the idea of messing with plumbing again gives me flashbacks.
Rain barrels are cool, but in my experience, they fill up fast and then you’re stuck with overflow. A cistern would be great if I had more yard, but our lot is tiny. I guess it comes down to what’s practical for your space. I do think people underestimate how much those “boring” changes add up, though. Like, you don’t notice a low-flow shower after a week, but you definitely notice the bill.
Funny thing—my neighbor went all-in with smart irrigation and some kind of underground tank. He’s always bragging about his setup, but I’m not sure the ROI is there unless you’re really into gadgets or landscaping. For me, it’s more about not getting hit with surprise bills.
Anyway, if the city wants to pay me, I’ll happily take their money and maybe finally get around to that greywater project... if I can convince myself to crawl under the house again.
