Drinking Water

• If you drink tap water, keep a bottle or pitcher of water in the refrigerator so you will always have a supply of cold water for drinking.
• Use leftover drinking water for watering houseplants.
• In restaurants, have the wait staff provide you with drinking water only if you want it.

Food Preparation

• Use a soft brush to clean fruits and vegetables more quickly. Running the water while cleaning produce can waste up to 5 gallons of water.
• When thawing frozen meats, plan ahead and thaw them in the refrigerator rather than thawing in warm water soaks. This will be safer and healthier, too.

Garbage Disposal

• Most garbage disposals require you to run cold water the entire time you are using them.
• To save water, have all the garbage ready at the sink before you start running the disposal.

Cleaning Dishes

• Wipe dinner plates instead of rinsing them before placing them in the dishwasher.
• Run the dishwasher only with a full load and on the shortest cycle needed.

Personal Hygiene

• When brushing your teeth or shaving, only run the water when you need to rinse. Allowing the water to run while brushing your teeth or shaving can waste up to 5 gallons of water.
• If you take a bath, do not overfill the tub. A full tub may hold over 50 gallons of water. When you first run the bath water, don't let the initial cold water run down the drain. Stopper the tub and save all the water. It will be warmed up by the hot water that follows.
• Take shorter showers. The average shower uses 15 - 20 gallons of water.
• Insulate hot water pipes to reduce the amount of time you need to run the water to allow it to heat up before getting in the shower.
• Do not use the toilet to flush items that could more properly go into the trash instead.

Household Water Leaks

• Check all the household faucets for leaks, especially outside faucets and garden hose connections. Make repairs when necessary. A leak no matter how small can add up. A slow drip can waste 75 gallons a week. A steady drip can waste 200 gallons a week. A stream can waste 1000 gallons a week.
• Check the toilet for leaks by adding a dye tablet or a few drops of food coloring into the toilet tank. If the dye gets into the toilet without having flushed, there is a toilet leak. Also, listen for the sound of water running out of the tank. Sometimes it's hard to see water leaking into the toilet but you might hear it. A leaky toilet can waste 60 gallons a day or more.

Laundry

• Try to wash full loads only. If this isn’t possible, change the setting for the load size to a smaller load.
• High efficiency washers can use up to 30 gallons per load and older washers can use as much as 50 gallons per load.

Lawn & Garden

• Water lawns and gardens in the morning. This will reduce evaporation and allow the moisture to sink into the soil before the heat of the day.
• Water gradually and lightly to prevent wasted runoff.
• Turn off automatic sprinklers during times of wet weather to prevent needless waste and over-watering.
• Water small gardens by hand with a hose or watering can.
• When planning a garden, incorporate native plant species or plant species that don't require as much water. Mulch heavily wherever practical to prevent moisture loss.
• In dry periods, allow the grass to grow a little higher. This will save water and protect your lawn from burning.

Pools

• Fill your pool earlier in the season when demand for water is not as great.
• When filling your pool, keep an eye that you do not overflow it.
• When emptying kiddie pools, use the water for watering plants, shrubs and gardens.

Car Washing    

• Wash your car in the shade and on the grass if possible. This will use less water and water your lawn at the same time.
• Do not leave the hose running while washing your car. A running hose can waste 25 gallons per minute or more.