Faucets and Taps

Installing water-efficient faucet aerators (1.0 gallons per minute or less) can save over 10 gallons of water a day.

Worn washers or O-rings (for washer-less faucets) usually cause faucet and/or tap leaks. Repairing a faucet leak is easy. Just turn off the water supply to that faucet, replace the washer, and turn on the water.

Bathroom

Install water-efficient shower heads (2.5 gallons per minute or less). Older shower heads can waste over 20 gallons of water a day.

Installing low-volume (1.6 gallons per flush or less) toilets can greatly reduce water usage. Older toilets can waste over 40 gallons of water a day. 

Another option is to put a sealed container filled with water in the toilet tank. This will reduce the amount of water used for the flush. Be careful that your container doesn’t float or move around within the tank. It could interfere with toilet’s flushing and filling mechanisms. Also make sure you test flush the toilet to see if it is still working adequately. 

Don’t run the water while shaving, brushing your teeth, or lathering your face and hands. 

Avoid using the toilet as a wastebasket.

Kitchen

When cleaning vegetables, use a pan of water instead of a running faucet. 

Keep a bottle of drinking water in the refrigerator to avoid running the tap to get a glass of cool water. 

Scrape the dishes without rinsing as you load the dishwasher or use a pan of water instead of a running faucet. 

Only run full loads in your dishwasher. Run the dishwasher during off-peak hours to help conserve electrical energy. 

When practical avoid using your garbage disposal for food waste. This not only reduces water usage but helps keep your sewer pipes clear. 

Laundry

Purchase new, water-efficient models. Many new washing machines, especially front-loading models, use 30 percent less water. 

Run full loads. If you must run a small load, adjust the water level control on the washing machine as appropriate. 

Washing machine hoses can, and do burst, usually when you are not at home. As a preventative measure, turn off both hot and cold faucets when you are finished washing clothes.

Outside

Avoid using your hose to spray away debris from your driveway, sidewalks, patios, and curbs. Use a broom and properly dispose of the debris. 

Car wash facilities, both self-service and full service, usually do a good job with water conservation as well as preventing runoff from going directly to the streams, rivers, and lakes. 

When washing your car at home use an adjustable spray nozzle on your hose. Shut the water off at the nozzle when you aren’t actively using the water. Also, it helps when you use an appropriate degree of misting spray instead of full flow. 

Ensure your outdoor faucet is turned off when not in use. A hose mistakenly left dribbling away in the grass or garden can waste thousands of gallons of water over the course of a summer.