21 Tips to Saving Water in your Home

 

If you follow these 21 simple tips you can save gallons of water every single day. You can feel good about helping the environment and cut down on your water bills at the same time.

 

1. Never put water down the drain when there may be another use for it such as watering a plant or garden, or cleaning.

 

2. Verify that your house is free of hidden water leaks. Read your water meter before and after a two-hour period when no water is being used. If the meter does not read exactly the same then there is a leak.

 

3. Check for toilet tank leaks by adding food coloring to the tank. If the toilet is leaking, color will appear within 30 minutes. Check the toilet for worn out, corroded or bent parts.

 

4. Avoid flushing the toilet unnecessarily. Dispose of tissues, insects and other such waste in the trashcan instead of the toilet.

 

5. Take shorter showers and replace you showerhead with an ultra-low-flow version.

 

6. Turn off the water after you wet your toothbrush. There is no need to keep the water running while brushing your teeth.

 

7. When buying a new dishwasher, consider purchasing a water-saving model. New models use up to 25 percent less water than older ones which can save up to 4 gallons of water per load.

 

8. Wash only full loads in the clothes washer. Washing small loads uses over twice as much water per pound of laundry.

 

9. When washing dishes by hand, don't leave the water running for rinsing.

 

10. Water your garden either first thing in the morning or late in the evening to reduce the amount of water that is evaporated by the sun.

 

11. Insulate your water pipes. You'll get hot water faster plus avoid wasting water while it heats up.

 

12. Water your lawn only when it needs it. A good way to see if your lawn needs watering is to step on the grass. If it springs back up when you move, it doesn't need water. If it stays flat, the lawn is ready for watering.

 

13. Kitchen sink disposals require lots of water to operate properly. Start a compost pile as an alternate method of disposing food waste instead of using a garbage disposal.

 

14. Cover you pool. Using a cover is the best way to prevent water loss from your pool. Studies show that pool covers can reduce swimming pool water evaporation by nearly 30%

 

15. After boiling an egg wait for the water to cool down and then use it to water your houseplants. Your plants will benefit from all the nutrients that are released from the shell.

 

16. Put a plastic bottle filled with pebbles or sand in the toilet tank to reduce flushing water.

 

17. Always se a broom, not a hose, to clean driveways and sidewalks.

 

18. Do not use running water to thaw meat or other frozen foods. Defrost food overnight in the refrigerator or by using the defrost setting on your microwave.

 

19. Even small drips can waste hundreds of gallons of water each day. Check all water using fixture frequently for drips.

 

20. Put a layer of mulch around trees and plants. Mulch will slow evaporation of moisture while discouraging weed growth.

 

21. Store drinking water in the refrigerator rather than letting the tap run every time you want a cool glass of water.