Here are some simple tips your whole family can put into practice to help save on water consumption:
- Only run your dishwasher and washing machine when you have a full load. This reduces the number of loads you need to do thereby reducing the amount of water you waste.
- Soak your dishes before hand-washing. This will speed up the process and use less water.
- Fix those plumbing leaks! Whether your sink is dripping, your toilet is running, or you have a leak in your garden hose, plumbing leaks waste lots of water and money.
- Turn off the sink while brushing teeth, lathering hands, and between dish-washing. All of these was significant amounts of water every year.
- Install low-flow toilets and low-flow shower heads. Low-flow toilets can save you a few gallons of water every flush. Just imagine how much that would save your family every year!
- Switch from bathing to showering, and save up to 30 gallons every time you wash up.
- Take shorter showers. If you're spending 45 minutes in the shower just to unwind, be aware that you're throwing water and money down the drain!
- Reuse cooking water and leftover drinking water to feed plants and pets.
- Water your lawn and plants in the early morning or evening. This will reduce the amount of water you lose to evaporation in the hot sun.
- Install a rain barrel to collect rain water for future plant watering. Rain water is great for washing cars, too!
- Bathe your dogs outdoors, and water your lawn at the same time this way!
- Insulate your pipes. Insulated pipes need less time to heat water, meaning you waste a lot less water waiting for it to heat up.
- Use mulch in your flower beds. It will prevent evaporation of water from the ground beneath, keeping your plants happily watered and more money in your pocket.