Utilities - Money Saving Tips

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 Drink Tap Water

• City tap water $1.03
• Bottle water $1,445.00*
• Drink tap water and save $1,444 a year.

Wondering about Olympia water quality? View our 2009 Water Quality Report. Get the facts; Olympia's water meets or exceeds all State and Federal standards.

* Calculations based on 99 cents for 16 oz bottled water.

 Get a Smaller Garbage Cart

Learn how you can reduce your waste and then get a smaller garbage cart. Not only will you save money, it is good for the environment. A customer that recycles and goes from a 95-gallon cart to a 20-gallon cart will save $278.88 a year. 

 Park your Car - Walk, Bike or take the Bus

Parking your car not only saves you money but it is good for both you and the environment. You can save thousands of dollars a year by leaving your car at home. Find out about your commute options.

 Conserve Water

High water use impacts your bill. This is because Olympia has a use-less, pay-less 4-tier system that promotes conservation. Here are some ways that you can save money on your water bill.

• Outdoor conservation - Outdoor watering is the biggest user of water; with summer coming, learn how you can save.
• Rain barrels - Capture rain to water your flowers.
• Repair leaky hoses - Leaks can waste lots of water. Fix them when you find them. Learn if you are eligible for a free hose repair kit.
• Indoor conservation - Learn how to conserve water indoors.

 Recycle

Did you know that recycling is free? Plus you get a discount on your garbage rate for carts 35-gallons or larger! Not signed up? Call Utility Billing for more information at 360.753.8368 select option 1.

 Compost at Home

Composting is a great way to reduce the amount of waste going out, while helping the environment. There are a variety of options available for home composting. No space to compost? A large percentage of what goes in your garbage cart is food waste and other compostables; reduce your garbage cart size by composting at the curb.

 Sign Up for Automatic Bill Pay

Sign up for FREE direct payment and save the hassles of writing checks and buying postage; plus, your payment will always be on time. 

 Buy a Resource-efficient Washing Machine 

Purchase a resource-efficient washing machine and save water, energy and money! Plus, you will be eligible for a $100 mail-in rebate if you are a City sewer customer and purchase a qualifying machine. You may also qualify for a rebate from Puget Sound Energy; visit the PSE website for more information.

 Lifeline Program for Low Income

The City of Olympia offers a Lifeline Rate on utilities services for customers who qualify as low-income and disabled, and low-income senior citizens. This rate applies to residential customers only.

Contacting Public Works:

• Physical Address: 924 7th Ave. SE, Suite A
• Mailing Address: PO Box 1967, Olympia, WA 98507 (directions)
• Hours: M - F from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (except for City-recognized holidays)
• 360.753.8588, TTY 360.753.8270
• publicworks@ci.olympia.wa.us