20 Simple Ways to Conserve Water

The hot summer weather is here and it is creating a drought, making water conservation a must. This year California businesses and residents were asked to voluntarily reduce water usage by 20 percent to help save water. There are hundreds of things that you can do to help conserve water. Here are a few ideas that you can easily incorporate into your everyday life.

1. Minimize the number of dishes used throughout the day by designating a drinking glass for yourself. This eliminates the need to wash multiple cups.
2. When serving dinner, serve right out of the pots and pans, as this will eliminate additional dishes.
3. Soak pots and pans instead of letting the water run while you scrape them clean.
4. Wash your fruits and vegetables in a pan of water instead of using running water from the tap.
5. Keep a pitcher of drinking water in the refrigerator instead of running the tap for cold water.
6. Dishwashers can use less water than hand washing, especially new energy-efficient models.
7. Collect water used for cleaning fruits and vegetables, drained from pasta, etc. to water your plants.

8. When doing laundry, wash in cold water, as it saves water and energy while helping clothes keep their color.
9. Also, when doing laundry be sure to match the water level with the size of the load.
10. Shorten your shower by a minute or two and save up to 150 gallons per month. If your whole family did this, imagine how much water your house could save!
11. Aim for 5-minute showers and you can save up to 1,000 gallons of water per year.
12. Skip the baths, as a full bathtub requires up to 70 gallons of water.
13. Turn off the water as you brush your teeth and save up to 4 gallons a minute. That's up to 200 gallons a week for a family of four.
14. Be sure to check all faucets for leaks, as one drip every second can add up to 5 gallons per day! Also check all pipes, hoses, toilets, and faucets inside and out for leaks.
15. Run your washer and dishwasher only when they are full. This can save up to 1,000 gallons a month.
16. In your yard, be sure to plant species that are native to your area, as they require less maintenance to flourish.
17. Start a compost pile or bin. Using compost in your garden or flower beds adds water-holding organic matter to the soil.

18. Wash your pets outdoors, in an area of your lawn that needs to be watered.
19. Use a broom instead of a hose to clean patios, sidewalks, and driveways, and save water every time!
20. When washing your car, use commercial car washes that recycle water. When washing your car at home, be sure to turn the water on only when rinsing.

Try to incorporate as many of these as you can, and see what a difference a few little changes can make to reduce the amount of water you use.