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How to Get Water Wise

When you think about water, your main concern is probably just trying to make sure you drink your eight glasses a day. But beyond those 64 ounces, do you know how much water you use in your home each day? Chances are it’s more than you think. In fact, the average American uses around 110 gallons of water every day! Conserving water is important for the environment — and it’s easier than you might think. Each little drop in the bucket counts toward big
changes over time. Here are some of the simplest ways to help save water in and around your home.

In Your Kitchen

Believe it or not, in most cases, using your dishwasher is usually more water-efficient than handwashing dishes — especially if you run the dishwasher only when it’s fully loaded. When you’re loading the dishwasher, scrape and wipe food scraps off dishes rather than rinsing them first to save even more water.

Instead of dumping “old” water down the drain —glasses with melted ice, water left over from cooking pasta or vegetables, etc. — use it to water houseplants once it’s reached room temperature.

Do you have to run your faucet for a few moments to get hot water? Don’t let that cold-to-lukewarm water run down the drain. Collect it in a pitcher or pot to use for cooking, washing vegetables or watering plants.

Use as little water as you can during cooking, and use the smallest pans you can. The larger the pan, the more water you’ll need to fill it. Keep your pots and pans tightly covered during cooking to ensure that water doesn’t boil away too fast.

In your Laundry Room

Run the washing machine only when you have a full load — and skip the extra rinse cycle.

If you have handwashables, wait until you have several and do them all at once. Use the clean “rinse” water from one batch as the “wash” water for the next batch rather than draining and filling the sink each time.

In Your Bathroom

Got a leaky faucet? Repair that drip and you’ll save hundreds of gallons every year.

Choose showers over baths, and limit your showers to five minutes or less. Better yet, install a new low-flow showerhead, which will significantly reduce how many gallons your shower uses every minute.

When you’re brushing your teeth or shaving, don’t let the water run. Turn it off until it’s time to rinse.

Redoing your bathroom? Update your toilet. New toilets use just 1.6 gallons per flush - that can make a difference of up to 15,000 gallons a year!

In Your Yard

Invest in a rain barrel - which is exactly what it sounds like: a container you keep outside to collect rainwater. Then use that water for your lawn and garden.

Mulch, mulch, mulch. Keeping your beds lightly covered with a bed of mulch will help the soil retain moisture, meaning your landscaping will require less watering.

Weeding your garden will not only keep it looking prettier, but will enable you to use less water by eliminating your plants’ competition.

Water your lawn less often, but when you do, water for a longer time. The deeper into the soil the water goes, the deeper your lawn’s root system will be — and the deeper the root system, the longer the lawn can go without watering. (It will also withstand dry spells better.)