Water Home Saving Tips

Whether it's because of a high water bill or out of care for the environment and the earth's resources, many people are looking to reduce the amount of water they use and waste. Here are some simple, easy tips for reducing water usage and waste around the house - no tools required.

In the Kitchen. An easy way to save water in the kitchen is to fill up the sink with soapy water rather than washing and rinsing the dishes under running water. Don't run your dishwasher unless it is completely full. Washing large dishes by hand in the sink rather than letting them take up space in the dishwasher. The garbage disposal is often forgotten about when it comes to saving water. It requires a lot of water to run the garbage disposal. Put your food scraps in the trash, a compost pile, or run your disposal once rather than several times.

In the Bathroom. Don't flush tissues or other items down the toilet. An average toilet uses 5-7 gallons of water per flush. Use the wastebasket instead. Another way to save water using your toilet is to fill a plastic container with water and put it in the toilet tank. A 2-liter bottle will save you 2 liters of water on each flush.

When shaving, fill up the sink with water and use that to rinse your razor, rather than running the water. Don't run the water while brushing your teeth, or washing your hands either. Turn the tap on quickly to get your toothbrush or your hands wet, then turn it back on to rinse.

The easiest way to save money in the shower is to take shorter showers. You can also install a low-flow, high-efficiency showerhead. Another idea for saving water is to collect the cold water in a bucket while the shower is heating up. Use this for watering plants, pouring down the garbage disposal while you run it, or other jobs that don't necessarily require fresh water. Bathe younger children together, or one after another in the same water. And remember, only a few inches of water is necessary when bathing.

Outside. Use a broom to clean your driveway and sidewalks rather than the hose. Fill a bucket with soapy water to wash your car, then rinse it quickly with a high pressure hose. Don't use water toys that require running water, or allow your children to play with the sprinklers.

Laundry. Wear your clothes several times if they are not visibly dirty. If your washing machine has a water-level control, make sure you use it. Running fewer large loads is more efficient than a lot of small loads, but either way make sure you only run full loads of laundry.