How YOU Can Save Water


Activities Fix Your Faucets Check Your Toilets Test Your Shower

Here are some ways you can use water more efficiently. Share these tips with your family.

    1. Brush Teeth Wisely
      Turn off the water while you brush your teeth, and save 4 gallons a minute. That’s 200 gallons a week for a family of four.

    2. Don’t Waste Drinking Water
      Keep a pitcher of water in the fridge instead of running the tap until the water becomes cold.

    3. Use Less Water for Dishes
      Scrape your dishes clean to reduce rinsing. Run the dishwasher only when it’s full. If you wash by hand, use basins rather than running water.

    4. Wash Hands Efficiently
      Turn off the water while you soap your hands, and rinse briefly.

    5. Flush Only When Necessary
      Put paper, insects, hair, and other such waste into the garbage can rather than in the toilet. Every time you avoid flushing the toilet it saves many gallons of water.

    6. Stop Leaks
      Turn off water faucets tightly so they don’t drip. If you find a water fountain at school that won’t turn off, a leaky faucet, or a toilet that keeps running, tell the custodian. If you find a drippy faucet at home, tell an adult.

    7. Wash Clothes Wisely
      Make sure your clothes are truly dirty before putting them into the hamper. Wash clothes only when you have a full load, and use cold water whenever possible. Washing in cold works just as well as using hot or warm—and it uses less energy.

    8. Don’t Overwater
      Remind adults to water the lawn only once a week for no more than an hour—less if it rains; to water lawns in the early morning or late evening to limit evaporation; and to keep grass about 2 1/2 inches high. Taller grass shades the roots and holds moisture better.

    9. Sweep to Save
      Use a broom, rather than a hose, to clean off sidewalks and driveways.

    10. Wash Cars Wisely
      Wash your car at a car wash so the soapy water can be properly recycled. If you do it yourself, use a shutoff nozzle on your hose to limit water waste when soaping your car. You can save over 100 gallons this way.

    11. Collect Unused Water
      Place a bucket in an unused shower or sink to collect the water while you're waiting for it to heat up. The collected water can then be used for plants and clean-up jobs.

    12. Install Water-Saving Fixtures
      Water-efficient showerheads, faucets, and toilets can save hundreds of gallons per year.