Home Water Conservation Guide

Why is water conservation important? Simply put, fresh water is the most important resource we have, and it’s limited. Without potable water, we would all die in a few days — our adult bodies are about 65 percent water, after all.

Many people don’t know this, but using excess water places a strain on sewage and septic systems, which can lead to a contamination of groundwater.

In addition to being a vital resource for survival, water conservation is also important to energy conservation. An estimated 6.5 percent of all energy consumed goes to moving water around. Using less water means using less energy, which in turn saves money (and, incidentally, the planet).

So what can you do to start saving water today? It might be a lot easier than you think. Below, you’ll find a wealth of tips on how to save water — and money — in your home.

How to Conserve Water in the Kitchen

There are many easy ways you can conserve water in the kitchen. If you have a dishwasher, don’t run it until it’s completely full. Avoid running water for long periods of time, if possible — rinse dishes in a half-full sink, rather than under a running tap. Also, choosing steaming over boiling in your meal preparation will save you a lot of water in the long run!

• Water Saving Tips: Kitchen from Wichita Falls, Texas Government Website
• Water Saving Tips in the Kitchen from Gracelinks
• How to Save Water from Save Water America
• Water Conservation Tips from Kohler
• Save Water and Money in the Kitchen from Rutgers
• Tips to Save Water in the Kitchen from Green Home Guide

How to Conserve Water in the Bath

Some methods of conserving water in the bathroom are obvious: spend less time in the shower, take fewer baths, turn off the water while you brush your teeth, and so on.

Consider leveling up your water conservation game! Install a low-flow shower head, or put a bucket under the shower while it gets warm. You can use that water for plants or cleaning instead of just letting it run down the drain.

• Bathroom Conservation Fact Sheet by Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality
• Conservation Tips from WSSC
• Tips for the Bathroom from Kohler
• Water-Saving Bathroom Devices from Gizmodo
• WaterSense: Bathroom Sink Faucets & Accessories from EPA
• Home Water Efficiency: Bathroom Fact Sheet from New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services

How to Conserve Water when Doing Laundry

The best way to conserve water in the laundry room? Do as little laundry as possible. Reuse your old towels as much as you reasonably can before laundering them. Wash with cold water when possible (heating the water takes more energy), and only run full loads in the washing machine. If you can upgrade your washing machine and water heater to more efficient models, your energy bill (and the planet) will thank you!.

• How to Conserve Water in the Laundry Room from Water Use It Wisely
• How to Save Water in the Laundry Room from About
• Waste Not from Boston Globe
• Conserving Water from Energy.gov
• Water Use Tips for Inside the Home from Maryland.gov
• 3 Simple Ways to Save Water and Money in the Laundry Room from Rutgers

Water-Effecient Lawn & Garden Systems

Creating a water-efficient lawn and garden system can require more planning and diligence, but it doesn’t have to be difficult. For maximum effectiveness, water gardens in the morning and pots in the afternoon. Save and reuse water from elsewhere in the house (like the shower!) for your lawn and garden needs. Use mulch in your garden to hold in moisture and save up to 70% of your soil’s water from evaporating on a hot day!

• Water Saving Tips: Outdoors from Gracelinks
• Save Water, Time and Money on your Landscape from This Old House
• Top 10 Ways to Conserve Water from OrganicLife
  Water Conservation Tips for the Home Lawn and Garden from University of California
• Conserving Water in the Garden from Oregon State Library
• Water Efficiency and Conservation Tips from Stanford
  Backyard Water Conservation from USDA

Additional Home Water Conservation Reading

• Compute Your Water Use from South Florida Water Management District
• Water Conservation Tips from City of Maple Grove
• Conserving Water from Boston College
• Indoor Water Efficiency Fact Sheet from Portlandoregon.Gov
• Conserving Water at Home from University of Maine
• Tips for Conserving Water from State of Connecticut

Home Water Conservation for Kids

• Watersense Kids from EPA
• Kids Water Conservation Corner from City of San Diego
• Water Conservation for Kids from Utah.gov
• How the Children Learned to Save Water from University of Connecticut
• Water Footprint Calculator from National Geographic
• Youth Water Resourcesfrom Texas A&M Agrilife
• Kids 4 Water Conservation from Manateee County Florida