No matter where on the globe you live, water conservation is very important, even in regions where water seems to be “overflowing”. This is not only the matter of our water bill (although it doesn’t hurt to reduce it), but too much water usage leads to an increase in the pollution in nearby lakes and rivers. Therefore, in order to save your family budget and the well-being of our planet, take better care of how much water you are using. Here are some ideas to think about.

Don’t leave the water running if you are not using it

It may seem simple, but it is often the easiest way of reducing the everyday usage of water. Instead of using two gallons of water on a brushing session, turn the tap on when you wet your toothbrush and than again when you rinse, no need to leave it running in-between. Also avoid flushing the toilet too much. Paper tissues, cigarettes and other trash are supposed to go into the recycling bin, not down the toilet.

Washing dishes

First of all try to limit the number of glasses, plates and spoons you use on a daily basis. Have one glass (or even better a bottle) from which you will drink during the course of one day and buy a personalized colorful glass for your child. In that way you will reduce the amount of water used for dishwashing. Furthermore, washing dishes by hand is both more expensive and time-consuming when compared to a dishwasher. A dishwasher can save up to 5000 gallons of water. If you have to wash dishes by hand, soak them in hot water (best over night) and try to scrub instead of rinsing.

Take a load off your washing machine

An average household uses the washing machine around 400 times a year. It is just foolish to turn on the washing machine for just one T-shirt or a pair of jeans. Make sure you have a full load before you start the washer. On average 10 to 40 gallons of water is used on a single load. Also buy new, eco-friendly washers instead of using the old water hogs.

Avoid baths and shorten your showers

By filling a bathtub you use up to 70 gallons of water. This amount of water can be reduced 5 to 7 times by taking 5-minute showers. You can install water-conserving showerheads or timers in your bathroom to enforce the short shower rule. Also you could pretend that you are onboard a ship and conserve water by using a seamen’s technique of getting wet, turning off the shower, soaping and scrubbing and then quickly rinsing. This way you will use only around three gallons of water for a shower.

Leaks are always a problem

Around 50% of homes have a plumbing leak. A small faucet leak can waste up to 300 gallons a month, while a leaky toilet squanders around 100 gallons of water per day. Check whether your faucets and showerheads are screwed on tightly and replace the faulty ones. Faucets usually have a small rubber inside that gets worn out rather quickly; replacing it is both easy and cheap. Finally, make sure that you know where the main valve is located. In case of an emergency you can turn it off and save yourself from a flood.