25 Ways to Conserve Water

The earth has plenty of water; in fact, 71% of the earth is covered with it. Of that 71%, however, less than 10% is drinkable. With these statistics in mind, it is no wonder environmentalists want to conserve water. Here are 25 ways you can conserve water in your home.

1. Check pipes and faucets for leaks. This is probably the easiest thing you can do to conserve water in your home and save 20 or more gallons per day.

2. Your water meter is a good way to check for leaks. Read your water meter and write down the number. Do not use any water for at least two hours and then go back to check the meter again. If the readings are different, you have a water leak.

3. Install water saving toilets for your home. Each time you flush the toilet, it uses five to seven gallons of water. However, a water saving toilet uses only one and a half gallons with each flush.

4. Install low-flow showerheads that use less than 2.5 gallons of water per minute compared with the usual 5 to 10 gallons.

5. Take shorter showers. Get wet, lather up and then turn the water on to rinse.

6. Turn the water off when brushing your teeth. Fill a glass with water and rinse.

7. Insulate your water pipes. Water will heat quicker so you do not have to run the water as long for it to get hot.

8. Make sure your dishwasher and clothes washer are full before starting them. This means you will need fewer loads.

9. Do not pre-rinse the dishes before placing them in the dishwasher.

10. Avoid the permanent press cycle when using the clothes washer. It will use an extra 5 gallons of water.

11. If you wash the dishes by hand, fill the sink with water rather than running the water as you rinse them.

12. Place mulch around plants and trees to keep water in the soil from evaporating. This means it will not be necessary to water as often.

13. Water your lawn only when it needs to be watered, rather than putting a sprinkler on a timer.

14. If you do use a sprinkler, make sure the water hits the lawn instead of paved areas.

15. Do not water your lawn on a windy day, or it will blow the water away from the lawn.

16. Water your lawn early in the morning and let it soak into the lawn. This will allow the roots to get the water they need rather than evaporating quickly.

17. Rinse your fruits and vegetables in a bowl or pan of water rather than running the water. When you are done, you can water houseplants with it.

18. If you have a fish tank, you can use the water from the tank for plants, as well.

19. Put your gutters to use by collecting water from the roof. Use it to water your garden.

20. Soak pots and pans rather than running the water and scraping them before putting them in the dishwasher.

21. Learn where the master shut-off is for your water as well as teaching others. This could be helpful if there is a leak - both for protecting your home and for saving water.

22. Avoid using water toys that need a constant supply of water. A pool that you fill once would be better for conserving water.

23. Winterize all outdoor spigots to prevent the spigot from freezing.

24. Wrap any water pipe that is exposed to the air under your home to keep the pipes from freezing.

25. Use bath towels more than once. You are drying a clean body; they should not be dirty enough to wash after each use.

There are probably 100 or more ways to conserve water in your home. Nevertheless, if you follow these 25 suggestions, you should see a big difference in your monthly water bill.