11 Ways to Conserve Water in Your Home

Whether you enjoy a long, hot shower in the morning or savor a tall glass of ice water with dinner, water inevitably plays a huge role in your life. In fact, in a single year, the average American uses nearly 65,000 gallons of water.

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With a few small lifestyle changes, such as fixing leaks and using energy-efficient appliances, you can conserve this precious commodity to help ensure clean, drinkable water for everyone.

What Are the Best Ways to Save Water at Home?

1. Fix Leaks

Leaks can inflate your utility bill. A faucet or shower head that drips once per second can waste about 1,661 gallons of water each year. Other common water-wasting culprits include leaky garden hoses, broken pipes and toilets that run constantly. More importantly, small leaks can quickly become larger problems.

Fortunately, many leaks only require minor repairs, such as replacing damaged or worn washers and O-rings. If you’re a savvy DIYer, you can often fix the problem yourself. Otherwise, call in a plumber, who can quickly diagnose the problem and give you a repair estimate.

2. Become a Detective

If your water bill jumps, and you suspect a leak but don't see anything obvious, dig deeper. Check for signs, such as:

• Water stains

• Musty odors

• Mold or mildew

• Sounds of running water

• Drops in water pressure

• Wet spots under cabinets or near appliances

• Unexplained puddles in your yard

Check your toilet for silent leaks by placing food coloring or powdered drink mix in the water tank. Let it sit untouched for about half an hour, and then check the bowl. If it contains dye, you have a leak.

3. Set a Shower Timer

If you daydream while you’re showering, set a timer to remind you to dry off. Each minute you shave off your shower saves about 2.5 gallons of water, according to the EPA. If everyone in your family commits to shorter showers, it can result in substantial water savings over time.

4. Go Low-Flow

Install a low-flow shower head, which can improve water efficiency by 25% to 60%, depending on the age and type of fixture you’re replacing. When shopping, choose a product with the WaterSense label, which meets water efficiency standards set by the EPA.

You can also purchase low-flow faucets for kitchen and bathroom sinks. WaterSense models can reduce water usage by upwards of 30%.

5. Pause While You Lather

Maximize water savings by turning the shower off while you shampoo and soap up. Washing up doesn’t take long, so the water should still be hot when you’re ready to rinse.

Similarly, when brushing your teeth, keep the tap on only to wet your brush and fill a cup for rinsing. By turning off the flow while brushing, you can reduce your usage from about 4 gallons to less than a quarter of a gallon.

6. Don't Wait for Tap Water to Run Hot

Tap water can take time to heat up, particularly if you live in a cold climate, and you’re wasting gallons of water every minute you wait. Instead of letting the faucet run, heat cold water to the desired temperature using the microwave or stove.

Heating water can also be healthier than using hot tap water for drinking or cooking. Hot water heating units often contain metal, which can corrode over time, contaminating your water. By heating cold water, you'll avoid those contaminants for cleaner, healthier water.

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7. Let Your Dishwasher Do the Work

Washing a sinkful of dishes by hand can use a whopping 27 gallons of water while a modern dishwasher uses only about 3 to 4 gallons. That means that even running a partially loaded dishwasher is much more water-efficient than hand-washing.

Dishwashers are designed to wash food from dishes, so skip the prewash for added water savings. Just scrape away leftover food, load up the rack and run it. If your dishwasher has an “eco” mode, choose that to maximize water savings.

8. Skip the Garbage Disposal

Every time you run your garbage disposal, you use between 2 and 5 gallons of water. Instead of pushing your food through your pipes, try composting. Purchase a small countertop compost bin, which is ideal for coffee grounds, fruit peels and vegetable waste. These small units lock in odors and break down scraps that can ultimately be used in your garden.

9. Use a Rain Barrel

Outdoor tasks such as watering lawns and washing cars can require large quantities of water. To reduce outdoor water waste, place a rain barrel or rainwater urn under a down spout to collect and store the water that runs off your roof after a storm. If you don’t have a dedicated vessel to catch rain, use a plastic storage container.

You can use the rain you collect to water plants, fill decorative fountains or clean lawn and garden equipment. Some rain barrels also function as planters, so they serve double-duty and can add curb appeal to your home. For added convenience, choose a rain barrel with a built-in spigot so you can easily fill a watering can or bucket.

10. Practice Xeriscaping

If you're designing a garden, consider xeriscaping. This low-maintenance landscaping style requires minimal watering. Instead, it uses plants that have low water needs, such as cacti, succulents and plants native to arid climates.

Instead of lawn sprinklers — each sprinkler head uses about 5 gallons per minute — opt for drip irrigation. This conservation-minded watering system delivers water directly to plant roots, so there's less waste. Your local government or utility service may even offer incentives for installing this type of irrigation system, so give them a call to find out more about available programs.

11. Shop Smart

If you’re in the market for a new dishwasher or washing machine, look for the little blue star, which indicates compliance with strict governmental energy-efficiency standards. Although Energy Star appliances are known for energy savings, they also conserve water. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, an Energy Star dishwasher uses 30% less water than its standard counterparts, which amounts to about 8,000 gallons of water each year. Energy Star clothes washers use about 30% less water.

Why Is It Important to Conserve Water?

Earth contains 326 million cubic miles of water. However, only about 1% of that water is usable, and of that, only 0.5% is fresh water. The rest of earth's water is either inaccessible or too polluted to use.

Even in the United States, water availability faces challenges due to overdevelopment, population growth and climate change caused by global warming. Ultimately, demand for water keeps increasing, but the supply remains the same. Additionally, communities in arid climates or in areas faced with extended droughts may face restrictions that limit water use for tasks such as washing cars, filling pools or watering lawns.

By learning how to conserve water and thoughtfully using resources, you can help reduce the burden on your local water supply, ensuring fresh, clean drinking water for everyone.