Indoors

Conserving water doesn't mean you have to change your entire lifestyle. By being mindful of what you do around the house, you can save both water and money.

In the Kitchen

indoor faucet
  • When purchasing a dishwasher, consider a water-efficient model.
  • Scrape, don't rinse, your dishes before loading in the dishwasher.
  • Wait until you have a full load before using your automatic dishwasher.
  • Steam, rather than boil your vegetables whenever possible. Use a tight lid on the pot, and as little water as possible.
  • Check faucets and pipes for leaks (including automatic ice makers and dishwasher hoses).
  • Use your garbage disposal sparingly and start composting your kitchen waste.
  • Thaw frozen food in the refrigerator or microwave, not under running water.
  • Don't overuse garbage disposals. Use the disposal only at the end of cooking or cleanup periods, or when full.

In the Laundry

laundry
  • For washers with variable settings for water volume, select the minimum amount required per load.
  • If load size cannot be set, operate the washer with full loads only.
  • Use the shortest wash cycle for lightly soiled loads; normal and permanent press wash cycles use more water.
  • Pretreat stains to avoid rewashing laundry.
  • Check hoses regularly for leaks.

In the Bathroom

  • toiletThe toilet is the biggest water user in the house, older toilet models use up to 5 gallons of water with every flush. Don't use the toilet as an ashtray or wastebasket.
  • Put a plastic container or toilet dam in your tank to reduce flush water. This displaces some of the space normally taken by water, yet still allows normal flushing.
  • Check bathroom faucets and pipes for leaks. Replace leaky drain plugs in sinks and bathtubs
  • Install instant water heaters in bathrooms and in the kitchen so you don't have to let the water run while it heats up.
  • Keep tub baths to a minimum. Bathe in a partially-filled tub (minimal water level at 12 gallons).
  • shower headInstall water-saving showerheads or flow restrictors. Inexpensive showerheads and flow restrictors are available at the hardware store and are easy to install.
  • Take shorter showers. Limit your showers to the time it takes to wet yourself and rinse off.
  • Avoid using hot water when cold water will do.
For More Information:
- Saving Water Indoors
- Saving Water Outdoors