Water Saving Tips

Water Saving Tips

Here you’ll find over 50 tips to help you reduce your water footprint. Because most of the things on this list save you water and energy, they’ll also save you money in the long-run, but some cost you money up-front.

free or money-saving
low-cost
can be pricey .
In the Bathroom

If you don’t have a low-flow toilet, put a plastic bottle filled with water in your toilet tank to reduce the amount of water used per flush.

Put a bucket in the shower while you’re waiting for the water to warm up, and use the water you catch for watering plants or cleaning.

To check for a toilet leak, put dye or food coloring into the tank. If color appears in the bowl without flushing, there's a leak that should be repaired.

Turn off the water while brushing your teeth.

Turn off the water while shaving, and instead fill the bottom of the sink with a few inches of water to rinse your razor.

Install a low-flow shower head. It may cost you some money up front, but your water conservation efforts will save you money down the road.

Spend less time in the shower. If you lose track of time in the shower, bring a radio into the bathroom and time yourself by how many songs play while you’re in there. Try to get your shower time down to one song (or less).

If you take a bath, keep the water level low, and consider re-using the water before you let it go down the drain. Learn more »

Fix those leaky faucets. You may think that a constant drip is just annoying, but it’s also a huge waste of water (you can lose about 20 gallons of water per day from a single drippy faucet!).

Install low-flow faucet aerators in your sinks.

When you wash your hands, turn on the water briefly to wet them, turn it off while you lather up, then on again to rinse. You’ll save water –and soap – this way.

If you’re in the market for a toilet, buy a low-flow model – they use as little as half as much water as normal toilets.

If it’s yellow, let it mellow. The saying may be cliché, but it’s good advice. If you’re grossed out by the “yellow”, just put down the toilet lid.

Don’t flush things down the toilet to dispose of them. Throw away tissues and other bathroom waste in the garbage can, which doesn’t require gallons of water.

In the Kitchen

When washing dishes by hand, don't leave the water running the whole time. If your sink has two basins, fill one with water for washing, and another with water for rinsing. If you only have one basin, lather up and scrub a bunch of dishes, then turn the water on to rinse them all at once.

Only run the dishwasher when it’s completely full.

Scrape dishes into the trash rather than rinsing. New dishwashers don’t even require pre-rinsed dishes.

Use the garbage disposal less and the garbage more (or even better, start composting!).

When washing dishes by hand, use the least amount of detergent possible - this minimizes the water needed for rinsing.

Keep a bottle or pitcher of drinking water in the refrigerator instead of running tap water to cool it each time you want a drink.

Wash vegetables and fruits in a large bowl of water and scrub them with a vegetable brush – your faucet is not a power-washer!

Think ahead! Don’t use water to defrost frozen foods – instead, leave them in the fridge overnight to defrost.

Boil food in as little water as possible. You just need enough to submerge your pasta and potatoes, and with less water you keep more flavor and nutrients in your veggies.

Use the water left over from boiling to water your plants (just let it cool down first!).

If you’re planning on steaming veggies to go along with rice, potatoes or pasta, put your vegetable steamer right on top of the starchy foods you’re boiling. This way you’ll save water and space on your stove, and have fewer pots and pans to clean up afterwards!

Eat meat and dairy foods fewer times a day, or just in smaller portions. The amount of water used to produce animal products far exceeds the amount used for growing vegetables and grains. Learn more »

When grocery shopping, try to buy more whole foods like vegetables, rice and potatoes. Processed foods and beverages like chips, candies, pre-made meals and sodas take a lot more water to produce than foods that come straight from the farm.

Around the House

Use your laundry machine only when it’s full.

If you’re in the market for a new washer, choose an energy star certified model – it will save you gallons of water per load.

Don’t over-water your plants! Many plants die from over-watering. When you water your plants, poke at the soil with your finger. If the soil is dry and hard, give your plants some water, but if the soil is damp, leave your poor plant alone!

Outdoor Entertainment

Use a pool cover! You’ll keep leaves and bugs out of the pool, and save thousands of gallons of water from evaporation. Learn more »

When you clean the filters in your swimming pool or outdoor spa, make sure to direct the water you spray onto your lawn or other outdoor plants.

Keep your pool water cool – the warmer the water, the faster it evaporates.

Check your pool for leaks often, and if you find a leak get it fixed as soon as possible.

Keep your pool’s water level low to reduce the amount of water lost to splashing.

If your family wants to play with the hose or the sprinkler, make sure they do it in a dry part of the lawn that can use the water.

Avoid buying water toys that require a constant stream of water. Instead, try a blow-up kiddy pool that you only have to fill once.

Don’t buy or use a decorative fountain unless it re-uses its water.

Lawns and Gardens

Water your lawn during the cool parts of the day, like in the early morning or late evening. This helps to prevent evaporation that happens during the hot hours of the day.

Don't water the lawn on windy days, because wind increases evaporation.

Set up your sprinklers so they’re not spraying the sidewalk or driveway.

Use a drip irrigation system instead of a hose or sprinkler to water your garden.

Hand-water your lawn or garden instead of using sprinklers when possible. You’ll use less than half as much water this way.

Get a rain sensor for your automatic sprinklers, or just make sure to turn them off on days when rain is expected.

Set lawn mower blades one notch higher. Longer grass means less evaporation.

Direct the water drain line from your air conditioner to a flower bed, tree base or onto your lawn.

Xeriscape! Plant native species that don’t require additional watering around your house. Grassy lawns make sense in wet climates, but in dry areas like the southwest they’re huge water-wasters. In dry climates, try landscaping with rock gardens, cacti, and native trees and plants that won’t require watering. Learn more about xeriscaping »

Car Wash

Find out if any of your local car wash establishments recycle their wash water, and give your business to the one with the best water conservation practices.

Don’t leave the hose running when you wash your vehicle. Purchase a squeeze (pistol grip) nozzle for your hose so you don’t have to turn the tap to start and stop the flow.

Your hose is not a power-washer! Use soap and a sponge to clean the car, and only use the hose to rinse it off.

Drive your car onto your lawn when you wash it by hand - you’ll irrigate your lawn and get two jobs done at once!

Household Products

Recycle everything that you can. Read more about recycling and find out what you can recycle in your town.

Buy re-usable products for you home instead of disposables.

Buy higher-quality electronics and appliances instead of going for cheap models that don’t last as long. This might cost more money up front, but it will save you big in the long-run.

Buy second-hand goods whenever possible. You’ll find that lightly-used, higher quality items often cost less than new low-quality goods.

Your trash is someone else’s treasure! Make sure to donate or re-sell your old stuff instead of just throwing things out.

Rain Collection

Set up a rain barrel under a rain gutter outside your house. You can catch hundreds of gallons to use for watering the lawn, washing the car, etc. Just don’t drink it, and make sure to keep it covered with a screen so it doesn’t breed mosquitos. Learn more about rain barrels »

Graywater Systems

If you’re building a new house, or re-doing the plumbing in your old house, consider setting up a graywater system. These systems allow you to re-use the water from your sinks, laundry machine and dishwasher for watering plants and flushing toilets.