10 Effective Ways to Save Water at Home

It’s no secret that our local water supplies are stretched, and we need to do everything we can to use water efficiently. Taking measures to conserve water at home not only saves you money, but it’s great for the environment and the community.

Here are the top 10 things you can do to save water at home…

#1 Check for leaks

That means your toilets, faucets, pipes, and irrigation system. Even a small drip can waste 20 gallons per day. Larger leaks can waste hundreds if not thousands.

Use your water meter to check for hidden leaks. Read the meter before and after a two hour period when no water is being used. If the meter doesn’t read exactly the same, there is likely a leak.

#2 Install water-saving devices

That includes low flow shower heads and faucet aerators. Some water companies give them away free of charge and even install them, if you’d like. Consider low flow toilets, which could reduce indoor water use by as much as 30%. Cash rebates are sometimes available on certain models.

#3 Take shorter showers

You’ve been hearing about this one for years, and yes, taking shorter showers saves a lot of water. Sometimes you may have extenuating circumstances. If you’re sprayed by a skunk, you are welcome to use a little extra water.

#4 Turn it off

There really is no need to keep the water running while brushing your teeth or shaving.

#5 Don’t use the toilet as a wastebasket

Every time you flush a facial tissue or other trash, you’re just wasting water. That’s what garbage cans are for.

#5 Use full loads

It’s possible you can take this one to the extreme, but these appliances are built to handle full loads. Also, most makers of dish washing soap recommend not pre-rinsing dishes, which is a big water saver.

#7 keep bottles of drinking water in the refrigerator

Chilled water out of a glass is absolutely delicious and will save on running water from the tap to fill up your glass.

Also, you won’t need to use water to make ice if your drink is already chilled.

#8 Be water-wise in your yard

This includes your shrubs, as well as lawn. Many beautiful shrubs and plants thrive with far less water than you might think.

Tip: Put a layer of mulch around trees and plants. This slows the evaporation of moisture while discouraging weed growth at the same time.

#9 Fine-tune your irrigation system

For the lawn, avoid watering during the heat of the day or when it’s windy. Make sure your system is in good shape. Broken or damaged sprinkler heads are really bad news. Make sure your sprinklers are aimed at the lawn, not the gutter.

#10 Use common sense

Think about what you’re doing. Just the simple things like using a spray nozzle when rinsing your car, or a broom instead of a hose to wash down the driveway or sidewalks. All of this adds up to a lot of water savings.

Thanks for watching. I wish you all the best, and remember:

“slow the flow, save H2O!”