We use water for everything, which means we also overuse water. Here are some water-saving tips to help keep your usage down.
For Any Room with Plumbing
- Fix any leaky faucets
- Consider replacing any old equipment, like toilets, dishwashers, and laundry machines
In the Bathroom
- Take short showers instead of baths
- If your shower fills a one-gallon bucket in less than 20 seconds, replace your showerhead with a water-saving model
- Repair leaky toilets. If you don’t know whether your toilet is leaking, place 12 drops of food coloring into the tank. If color appears in the bowl one hour later (without flushing), then your toilet is leaking
- Install a toilet dam, faucet aerators, and low-flow showerheads
- Turn off the water to brush teeth and shave. Also, consider filling the sink to shave.
In the Kitchen
- Peel and clean vegetables in a large bowl of water instead of under running water
- Only run your dishwasher when it’s full
- Only use the garbage disposal when necessary (composting is a great alternative!)
- Defrost food in the refrigerator
- Designate one glass for your drinking water each day or use a refillable water bottle to reduce the number of dishes needed to be washed
- Keep a pitcher of water in the fridge for drinking instead of running the tap
- Install faucet aerators
- If you accidentally drop ice cubes, drop them in a houseplant instead of down the drain
In the Laundry Room
- Run full loads of laundry
- When purchasing a new machine, buy a water saving model that can adjust water usage to load size
Outside
- Water your lawn or garden early in the morning or late in the evening
- Adjust sprinklers so they don’t water the sidewalk or street
- Don’t water on cool, rainy, or windy days
- Use a bucket instead of a hose to wash your car
- Plant drought-tolerant or low water-use plants and grasses
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