52 Ways to save Water

Over 6000 children die every year, due to lack of safe water. Saving water is each human being’s responsibility. Practice this in your own home. Send soft copies of this to your friends.

  1. When washing dishes by hand, don’t let the water run while rinsing. Fill one sink with wash water and the other with rinse water. 
  2. Check your sprinkler system frequently and adjust sprinklers so only your lawn is watered and not the house, sidewalk, or street. 
  3. Run your washing machine only when they are full and you could save 1000 gallons a month. 
  4. Install low-volume toilets. 
  5. Time your shower to keep it under 5 minutes. You will save up to 1000 gallons a month or better still; use a bucket for your bath. 
  6. When you clean your fish tank, use the water you have drained on your plants. The water is rich in nitrogen and phosphorus, providing you with a free and effective fertilizer. 
  7. Put food coloring in your toilet tank. If it seeps into the toilet bowl, you have a leak. It is easy to fix, and you can save more than 600 gallons a month. 
  8. Don’t use running water to thaw food. 
  9. Grab a wrench and fix that leaky faucet. It is simple, inexpensive, and can save 140 gallons a week. 
  10. Do one thing each day that will save water. Even if savings are small, every drop counts.
  11. When the kids want to cool off, use the sprinkler in an area where your lawn or plants need it the most.
  12. Bathe your young children together.
  13. Wash your car on the grass. This will water your lawn at the same time.
  14. Drop that tissue in the trash instead of flushing it and save gallons every time.
  15. Support projects that use reclaimed waste water for irrigation and other uses.
  16. Use a hose nozzle and turn off the water while you wash your car and save more than 100 gallons.
  17. Encourage your friends and neighbours to be part of a water-conscious community.
  18. Water only as rapidly as the soil can absorb the water.
  19. Select the proper size pans for cooking. Large pans require more cooking water than may be necessary.
  20. Turn off the water while you shave and you can save more than 100 gallons a week.
  21. When you give your pet fresh water, don’t throw the old water down the drain. Use it to water your trees or shrubs.
  22. If you accidentally drop ice cubes when filling your glass from the freezer, don’t throw them in the sink. Drop them in a houseplant instead.
  23. To save water and time, consider washing your face or brushing your teeth while in the shower.
  24. While staying in a hotel or even at home, consider reusing your towels. Use thin towels that dry easily.
  25. Retrofit all household faucets by installing aerators with flow restrictors to slow the flow of water.
  26. Check for leaks around your pumps.
  27. Use the garbage disposal sparingly. Compost instead and save gallons every time.
  28. Check your water meter and bill to track your wastage usage.
  29. Wash your produce in the sink or a pan that is partially filled with water instead of running water from the tap.
  30. Use a layer of organic mulch around plants to reduce evaporation and save hundreds of gallons of water a year.
  31. Use a broom instead of a hose to clean your driveway or sidewalk and save 80 gallons of water every time.
  32. If your shower can fill a one-gallon bucket in less than 20 seconds, then replace it with a water-efficient showerhead.
  33. Collect the water you use for rinsing produce and reuse it to water houseplants.
  34. Divide your watering cycle into shorter periods to reduce runoff and allow for better absorption every time you water.
  35. We are more likely to notice leaky faucets indoors, but don’t forget to check outdoor faucets, pipes and hoses for leaks.
  36. Teach your children to turn the faucets off tightly after each use.
  37. Before you lather up, install a low-flow showerhead. They are inexpensive, easy to install, and can save your family more than 500 gallons a week.
  38. Encourage your school system and local government to help develop and promote a water conservation ethic among children and adults.
  39. Make sure your toilet flapper does not stick open after flushing.
  40. If your toilet was installed prior to 1980, place a toilet dam or bottle filled with water in your toilet tank to cut down on the amount of water used for each flush. Be sure these devices do not interfere with operating parts.
  41. Wash clothes only when you have a full load and save up to 600 gallons.
  42. Leave lower branches on trees and shrubs and allow leaf litter to accumulate on top of the soil. This keeps the soil cooler and reduces evaporation.
  43. More plants die from over-watering than from under-watering. Be sure only to water plants when necessary.
  44. Cook food in as little water as possible. This will also retain more of the nutrients.
  45. Turn the water off while you shampoo and condition your hair and you can save more than 50 gallons a week.
  46. Bathe your pet’s outdoors in an area in need of water.
  47. Keep a bucket in the shower to catch water as it warms up or runs. Use this water to flush toilets or water plants.
  48. When you are washing your hands, don’t let the water run while you lather.
  49. Soak your pots and pans instead of letting the water run while you scrape them clean.
  50. Group plants with the same watering needs together to get the most out of your watering time.
  51. While fertilizers promote plant growth, they also increase water consumption. Apply the minimum amount of fertilizer needed.
  52. Turn off the water while you brush your teeth and save 4 gallons a minute. That’s 200 gallons a week for a family of four.