10 Ways to Use Less Water

• Turn off the water when brushing your teeth.
• Either have an efficient toilet that uses fewer gallons of water or fill a plastic bottle with water and place it in the tank.
• Take showers instead of baths, and
• Keep shower length to a minimum, under 10 minutes is best, and if you are very water-conscious use the water only to initially wet your body and then rinse off (turning the water off while you lather, soap, wash your hair, etc.)
• If you handwash dishes, use the biggest pot as a water basin to hold the water while you clean the rest of the dishes. Rinse everything off at the very end.
• For washing dishes and clothes, choose an EnergyStar washer and fill it up to capacity before running. Front-loading clothes washers are more efficient than the traditional, top-loading type. When washing clothes, use cold water (takes less energy to heat), run a few, full loads instead of many small loads.
• Check any faucets, showerheads, pipes and other openings for leaks - one small leak can add up to gallons of water literally going down the drain.
• If you find yourself with extra water, don’t pour it down the drain; instead, use it to water plants or for cleaning.
• When cooking and heating water (eg for tea or coffee), only heat as much as you will use.