8 Steps to Saving Water at Home

With “blue as the new green“, it’s not only economical to find ways to save—it’s absolutely essential! Water is our sustainer, central to all life on this planet. How we save determines whether or not clean water is around for future generations and creature cohabitants of our planet.

Here are 8 steps to help you flex your water conservation power:

Leaky Faucet

Check to make sure there are no water leaks in your household. Take a look at your water meter before and after a two-hour period during which no water is being used. If it changes at all, there is a leak.
Insulate your water pipes. You will get hot water faster and avoid wasting water while waiting for it to heat up.
Install low-flow, water-saving showerheads, and avoid taking unnecessarily long showers. A four minute shower can use anywhere from 20 to 40 gallons of water.
Fill a bottle or plastic bag with gravel and put it in your toilet tank to lessen the volume of water used with each flush. Even better, install a low-flow toilet.
Wash only full loads in your clothes washer and dish washer.
Don’t leave the water running while brushing your teeth or shaving.
Consider developing a greywater system to re-use shower, sink, and dish-water for garden irrigation or for use in toilets.
Avoid over-watering your lawn. As a general rule only water every 5-7 days in the summer and 10-14 days in the winter. A good way to tell if your lawn needs watering is to step on it—if it springs back up when you move, it does not need to be watered. Also, letting grass to grow to a length of 3” will allow for deeper roots, which in turn allows the soil to retain more water.