Ways to Conserve Water In Your Home

Small adjustments can have a big impact and they all start with you.

The Environmental Protection Agency's Estimated Water Loss Through Leaky Fixtures

In the Kitchen

• When washing dishes by hand, don't let the water run. Fill one basin with wash water and the other with rinse water.
• Dishwashers typically use less water than washing dishes by hand. Now, Energy Star dishwashers save even more water and energy.
• If your dishwasher is new, cut back on rinsing. Newer models clean more thoroughly than older ones.
• Designate one glass for your drinking water each day, or refill a water bottle. This will cut down on the number of glasses to wash.
• Soak pots and pans instead of letting the water run while you scrape them clean.
• Use the garbage disposal sparingly. Instead, compost vegetable food waste and save gallons every time.
• Wash your fruits and vegetables in a pan of water instead of running water from the tap.
• Don't use running water to thaw food. For water efficiency and food safety, defrost food in the refrigerator.
• Install an instant water heater near your kitchen sink so you don't have to run the water while it heats up. This also reduces energy costs.
• Keep a pitcher of drinking water in the refrigerator instead of running the tap. This way, every drop goes down you and not the drain.
• Reuse leftover water from cooked or steamed foods to start a nutritious soup, it's one more way to get eight glasses of water a day.
• Cook food in as little water as possible. This also helps it retain more nutrients.
• Select the proper pan size for cooking. Large pans may require more cooking water than necessary.
• If you accidentally drop ice cubes, don't throw them in the sink. Drop them in a house plant instead.
• Collect the water you use while rinsing fruit and vegetables. Use it to water house plants.
• When shopping for a new dishwasher, use the Consortium for Energy Efficiency website to compare water use between models.

In the Laundry Room

• When doing laundry, match the water level to the size of the load.
• Washing dark clothes in cold water saves water and energy and helps your clothes retain their color.
• When shopping for a new washing machine, compare resource savings among Energy Star models. Some can save up to 20 gallons of water per load.
• Have a plumber re-route your greywater to trees and plants rather than the sewer line. Check with your city and county for codes.
• When buying a washer, check the Consortium for Energy Efficiency website to compare water use between models.

• In the Bathroom

• If your shower fills a one-gallon bucket in less than 20 seconds, replace the showerhead with an EPA-recommended WaterSense® labeled model.
• Shorten your shower by a minute or two and you'll save up to 150 gallons per month.
• Time your shower to keep it under 5 minutes. You'll save up to 1,000 gallons per month.
• Toilet leaks can be silent! Be sure to test your toilet for leaks at least once a year.
• Put food coloring in your toilet tank. If it seeps into the bowl without flushing, there's a leak. Fix it and start saving gallons.
• When running a bath, plug the bathtub before turning on the water. Adjust the temperature as the tub fills.
• Upgrade older toilets with water-saving WaterSense® labeled models.
• If your toilet flapper doesn't close properly after flushing, replace it.
• Use an EPA recommended WaterSense® labeled showerhead. They're inexpensive, easy to install, and can save you up to 500 gallons a month.
• Turn off the water while you brush your teeth and save up to 4 gallons a minute. That's up to 200 gallons a week for a family of four.
• If your toilet was installed before 1992, purchasing an EPA-recommended WaterSense® labeled toilet can reduce the amount of water used for each flush.
• Consider buying a dual-flush toilet. It has two flush options: a half-flush for liquid waste and a full flush for solid waste.
• Plug the sink instead of running the water to rinse your razor and save up to 300 gallons a month.
• Turn off the water while washing your hair and save up to 150 gallons a month.
• When washing your hands, turn the water off while you lather.
• Take 5-minute showers instead of baths. A full bathtub requires up to 70 gallons of water.
• Install water-saving aerators on all of your faucets.
• Drop tissues in the trash instead of flushing them and save water every time.
• Look for an EPA recommended WaterSense® labeled toilets, sink faucets, urinals and showerheads.
• One drip every second adds up to five gallons per day! Check your faucets and showerheads for leaks.
• While you wait for hot water, collect the running water and use it to water plants.