Water is everywhere, covering about 71% of the Earth’s surface. But here’s the catch: less than 10% of that water is actually safe for us to drink. That makes water one of our most valuable and limited resources. Conserving it isn’t just good for the environment; it can also lower your bills and make your home more efficient. The good news? You don’t need major lifestyle changes to make a difference. Small, consistent actions can add up quickly.
Here are 25 practical ways to start saving water today:
1. Check pipes and faucets for leaks. This is probably the easiest thing you can do to reduce waste in your home and save 20+ gallons per day.
2. Your meter is a good way to check for leaks. Read your meter and write down the number. Do not use any for at least 2 hours, then go back to check the meter again. If the readings are different, you may have a leak.
3. Install water-saving toilets for your home. Each time you flush the toilet, it uses 5 to 7 gallons. However, a water-saving toilet uses only 1.5 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 and rinse.
7. Insulate your pipes. Water will heat quickly, so you do not have to run the taps 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.
11. If you wash the dishes by hand, fill the sink, rather than running the taps 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 it 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 needed water rather than evaporate quickly.
17. Rinse your fruits and vegetables in a bowl or pan, rather than running the faucet. When you are done, you can give your houseplants a drink 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 rainwater and using 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, as well as teach others. This could be helpful if there is a leak to protect your home and save water.
22. Avoid using outdoor toys that need a constant supply of H20. A pool that you fill once would be better for reducing waste.
23. Winterize all outdoor spigots to prevent them from freezing.
24. Wrap any 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; it should not be dirty enough to wash after each use.
There are probably 100 or more ways to reduce waste in your home. Nevertheless, if you follow these suggestions, you should see a big difference in your bill
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