100+ Ways to Conserve Water

Source:  wateruseitwisely.com

Published: May 24, 2017

INDOOR TIPS

KITCHEN

1. #1 There are a number of ways to save water, and they all start with you.
2. #2 When washing dishes by hand, don’t let the water run. Fill one basin with wash water and the other with rinse water.
3. #3 Dishwashers typically use less water than washing dishes by hand. Now, Energy Star dishwashers save even more water and energy.
4. #4 If your dishwasher is new, cut back on rinsing. Newer models clean more thoroughly than older ones.
5. #5 Designate one glass for your drinking water each day, or refill a water bottle. This will cut down on the number of glasses to wash.
6. #6 Soak pots and pans instead of letting the water run while you scrape them clean.
7. #7 Use the garbage disposal sparingly. Instead, compost vegetable food waste and save gallons every time.
8. #8 Wash your fruits and vegetables in a pan of water instead of running water from the tap.
9. #9 Don’t use running water to thaw food. For water efficiency and food safety, defrost food in the refrigerator.
10. #10 Install an instant water heater near your kitchen sink so you don’t have to run the water while it heats up. This also reduces energy costs.
11. #11 Keep a pitcher of drinking water in the refrigerator instead of running the tap. This way, every drop goes down you and not the drain.
12. #12 Reuse leftover water from cooked or steamed foods to start a nutritious soup, it’s one more way to get eight glasses of water a day.
13. #13 Cook food in as little water as possible. This also helps it retain more nutrients.
14. #14 Select the proper pan size for cooking. Large pans may require more cooking water than necessary.
15. #15 If you accidentally drop ice cubes, don’t throw them in the sink. Drop them in a house plant instead.
16. #16 Collect the water you use while rinsing fruit and vegetables. Use it to water house plants.
17. #17 When shopping for a new dishwasher, use the Consortium for Energy Efficiency website to compare water use between models.

LAUNDRY ROOM

1. #18 When doing laundry, match the water level to the size of the load.
2. #19 Washing dark clothes in cold water saves water and energy, and helps your clothes retain their color.
3. #20 When shopping for a new washing machine, compare resource savings among Energy Star models. Some can save up to 20 gallons of water per load.
4. #21 Have a plumber re-route your greywater to trees and plants rather than the sewer line. Check with your city and county for codes.
5. #22 When buying a washer, check the Consortium for Energy Efficiency website to compare water use between models.

BATHROOM

1. #23 If your shower fills a one-gallon bucket in less than 20 seconds, replace the showerhead with a WaterSense® labeled model.
2. #24 Shorten your shower by a minute or two and you’ll save up to 150 gallons per month.
3. #25 Time your shower to keep it under 5 minutes. You’ll save up to 1,000 gallons per month.
4. #26 Toilet leaks can be silent! Be sure to test your toilet for leaks at least once a year.
5. #27 Put food coloring in your toilet tank. If it seeps into the bowl without flushing, there’s a leak. Fix it and start saving gallons.
6. #28 When running a bath, plug the bathtub before turning on the water. Adjust the temperature as the tub fills.
7. #29 Upgrade older toilets with water-saving WaterSense® labeled models.
8. #30 If your toilet flapper doesn’t close properly after flushing, replace it.
9. #31 Use a WaterSense® labeled showerhead. They’re inexpensive, easy to install, and can save you up to 750 gallons a month.
10. #32 Turn off the water while 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.
11. #33 If your toilet was installed before 1992, purchasing a WaterSense® labeled toilet can reduce the amount of water used for each flush.
12. #34 Consider buying a dual-flush toilet. It has two flush options: a half-flush for liquid waste and a full-flush for solid waste.
13. #35 Plug the sink instead of running the water to rinse your razor and save up to 300 gallons a month.
14. #36 Turn off the water while washing your hair and save up to 150 gallons a month.
15. #37 When washing your hands, turn the water off while you lather.
16. #38 Take 5-minute showers instead of baths. A full bathtub requires up to 70 gallons of water.
17. #39 Install water-saving aerators on all of your faucets.
18. #40 Drop tissues in the trash instead of flushing them and save water every time.
19. #41 Look for WaterSense® labeled toilets, sink faucets, urinals and showerheads.
20. #42 One drip every second adds up to five gallons per day! Check your faucets and showerheads for leaks.
21. #43 While you wait for hot water, collect the running water and use it to water plants.

GENERAL INDOOR

1. #44 Teach children to turn off faucets tightly after each use.
2. #45 Watch the Home Water Challenge video or use the Home Water Audit Calculator to see where you can save water.
3. #46 When the kids want to cool off, use the sprinkler in an area where your lawn needs it most.
4. #47 Encourage your school system and local government to develop and promote water conservation among children and adults.
5. #48 Play fun games while learning how to save water!
6. #49 Monitor your water bill for unusually high use. Your bill and water meter are tools that can help you discover leaks.
7. #50 Learn how to use your water meter to check for leaks.
8. #51 Reward kids for the water-saving tips they follow.
9. #52 Avoid recreational water toys that require a constant flow of water.
10. #53 Grab a wrench and fix that leaky faucet. It’s simple, inexpensive, and you can save 140 gallons a week.
11. #54 Hire a GreenPlumber® to help reduce your water, energy, and chemical use.
12. #55 Be a leak detective! Check all hoses, connectors, and faucets regularly for leaks.
13. #56 We’re more likely to notice leaky faucets indoors, but don’t forget to check outdoor faucets, pipes, and hoses.
14. #57 See a leak you can’t fix? Tell a parent, teacher, employer, or property manager, or call a handyman.
15. #58 At home or while staying in a hotel, reuse your towels.
16. #59 Make suggestions to your employer or school about ways to save water and money.
17. #60 Run your washer and dishwasher only when they are full. You can save up to 1,000 gallons a month.
18. #61 See how your water use stacks up to others by calculating your daily water use.

OUTDOOR TIPS

LAWN CARE

1. #81 Hire a qualified pro to install your irrigation system and keep it working properly and efficiently.
2. #82 Hire a Smartscape Certified professional landscaper who has received landscape training specific to the Sonoran Desert.
3. #83 Adjust your lawn mower to the height of 1.5 to 2 inches. Taller grass shades roots and holds soil moisture better than short grass.
4. #84 Leave lawn clippings on your grass, this cools the ground and holds in moisture.
5. #85 If installing a lawn, select a lawn mix or blend that matches your climate and site conditions.
6. #86 Aerate your lawn periodically. Holes every six inches will allow water to reach the roots, rather than run off the surface.
7. #87 If walking across the lawn leaves footprints (blades don’t spring back up), then it is time to water.
8. #88 Let your lawn go dormant (brown) during the winter. Dormant grass only needs to be watered every three to four weeks, less if it rains.
9. #89 Avoid overseeding your lawn with winter grass. Ryegrass needs water every few days, whereas Dormant Bermuda grass needs water monthly.
10. #90 Remember to weed your lawn and garden regularly. Weeds compete with other plants for nutrients, light and water.
11. #91 While fertilizers promote plant growth, they also increase water consumption. Apply the minimum amount of fertilizer needed.
12. #92 Water your summer lawns once every three days and your winter lawn once every five days.
13. #93 Catch water in an empty tuna can to measure sprinkler output. 3/4 to 1 inch of water is enough to apply each time you irrigate.

POOL

1. #118 Use a pool cover to help keep your pool clean, reduce chemical use and prevent water loss through evaporation.
2. #119 Make sure your swimming pools, fountains and ponds are equipped with recirculating pumps.
3. #120 If you have an automatic refilling device, check your pool periodically for leaks.
4. #121 When back-washing your pool, consider using the water on salt-tolerant plants in the landscape.
5. #122 Minimize or eliminate the use of waterfalls and sprays in your pool. Aeration increases evaporation.
6. #123 Don’t overfill the pool. Lower water levels will reduce water loss due to splashing.
7. #124 Keep water in the pool when playing, it will save water.
8. #125 Instead of building a private pool, join a community pool.
9. #126 Trickling or cascading fountains lose less water to evaporation than those that spray water into the air.
10. #127 Use a grease pencil to conduct a bucket test to check for pool leaks. An unnatural water level drop may indicate a leak.

GENERAL OUTDOOR

1. #128 Winterize outdoor spigots when temperatures dip below freezing to prevent pipes from leaking or bursting.
2. #129 For more immediate hot water and energy savings, insulate hot water pipes.
3. #130 Use a commercial car wash that recycles water. Or, wash your car on the lawn, and you’ll water your grass at the same time.
4. #131 Use a hose nozzle or turn off the water while you wash your car. You’ll save up to 100 gallons every time.
5. #132 Wash your pets outdoors, in an area of your lawn that needs water.
6. #133 When cleaning out fish tanks, give the nutrient-rich water to your non-edible plants.
7. #134 When you give your pet fresh water, don’t throw the old water down the drain. Use it to water your trees or shrubs.
8. #135 Use a broom instead of a hose to clean patios, sidewalks and driveways, and save water every time.
9. #136 Evaporative coolers require a seasonal maintenance check. For more efficient cooling, check your evaporative cooler annually.
10. #137 If you have an evaporative cooler, direct the water drain to plants in your landscape.
11. #138 Set water softeners for a minimum number of refills to save both water and chemicals, plus energy, too.
12. #139 If you have an evaporative cooler, install a recirculating pump to keep water from bleeding off with one pass.
13. #140 Report broken pipes, leaky hydrants and errant sprinklers to property owners or your local water provider.
14. #141 Know where your master water shut-off valve is located. Were a pipe to burst, this could save gallons of water and prevent damage.
15. #142 Install a thermostat and timer on your evaporative cooler so it only operates when necessary.

OFFICE

1. #10 Install an instant water heater near your kitchen sink so you don’t have to run the water while it heats up. This also reduces energy costs.
2. #29 Upgrade older toilets with water-saving WaterSense® labeled models.
3. #39 Install water-saving aerators on all of your faucets.
4. #41 Look for WaterSense® labeled toilets, sink faucets, urinals and showerheads.
5. #54 Hire a GreenPlumber® to help reduce your water, energy, and chemical use.
6. #143 Some commercial refrigerators and ice-makers are cooled with water. Upgrade to air-cooled appliances for significant water savings.
7. #144 Post a hotline in bathrooms and kitchens to report leaks or water waste to facility managers or maintenance personnel.
8. #145 Create a suggestion and incentives system at your organization to recognize water-saving ideas.
9. #146 Include a water-saving tip in your employee newsletter. Find 100+ tips at wateruseitwisely.com.
10. #147 Implement a water management plan for your facility, then educate employees on good water habits through newsletters and posters.
11. #148 Publish your organization’s monthly water use to show progress toward water-saving goals.
12. #149 Invite your water utility conservation staff to your organization for Earth Day and other environmental events to help promote water savings.
13. #150 Water audit your facility to find out your recommended water use, then monitor your utility bills to gauge your monthly consumption.
14. #151 Have maintenance personnel regularly check your facilities for leaks, drips and other water waste.
15. #152 If you use processed water in your business or facility, look into water recycling.
16. #153 Contact your water utility to see if rebates are available for purchasing water-efficient fixtures, equipment or for facility audits.
17. #154 Consider and compare water use when purchasing ice makers, dishwashers, reverse osmosis units, coolers and cleaning equipment.
18. #155 Become or appoint a water ambassador within your organization who creates, implements and maintains your water conservation program.
19. #156 Become a proud WaterSense® partner and let all your customers know.
20. #157 As part of the WaterSense® Fix-A-Leak Week in March, plan an employee campaign to look for leaks.
21. #158 Determine how your on-site water is being used by installing sub-meters where feasible, then monitoring for savings.
22. #159 Conduct a facility water use inventory and identify water management goals.
23. #160 Don’t forget hidden water use costs, like energy for pumping, heating and cooling, chemical treatment, and damage and sewer expenses.
24. #161 Show your company’s dedication to water conservation through a policy statement. Commit management, staff and resources to the effort.
25. #162 Shut off water to unused areas of your facility to eliminate waste from leaks or unmonitored use.
26. #163 Create a goal of how much water your company can save and plan a celebration once that goal is met.
27. #164 Ask employees for suggestions on saving water and give prizes for the best ideas. Incentivize it!
28. #165 Write feature articles on your employee website that highlight water-saving ideas and successes.
29. #166 Test your co-workers or employees on topics like xeriscape, WaterSense®, and high-efficiency toilets. See how water-wise they are.
30. #167 Hire a WaterSense® irrigation partner to help with your landscape.
31. #168 Saving water on your landscape adds up quickly. Send the person in charge of your landscape to an irrigation workshop.
32. #169 Marry the weather with your landscape water use. Water use should decrease during rainy periods and increase during hot, dry periods.
33. #170 Visit your local Water Conservation office’s website to get information on programs available to businesses.
34. #171 Make sure your contract plumber and/or maintenance personnel knows about GreenPlumbers®.
35. #172 Ask your company to support water conservation events and education. ProjectWet hosts local events throughout the country.
36. #173 Support Tap Into Quality and forgo those plastic water bottles to lower your carbon footprint.
37. #174 Scrape dishes rather than rinsing them before washing.
38. #175 Use water-conserving icemakers.
39. #176 A recent study showed that 99% of business managers surveyed ranked water conservation as a “top five” priority over the next decade.
40. #177 If your facility relies on cooling towers, have maintenance maximize cycles of concentration by providing efficient water treatment.
41. #178 Be sure your irrigation system is watering only the areas intended, with no water running onto walks, streets or down the gutter.
42. #179 While cleaning sidewalks, a hose and nozzle use 8-12 gallons of water per minute. A pressurized Waterbroom® uses closer to 3 gallons.
43. #180 Inspect your landscape irrigation system regularly for leaks or broken sprinkler heads and adjust pressures to specification.
44. #181 Give your landscape proper amounts of irrigation water. Determine water needs, water deeply but infrequently, and adjust to the season.
45. #182 Establish a monthly water budget for your landscape based on the water needs of your plants.
46. #183 Limit turf areas at your facility. Instead, landscape using xeriscape principles to cut water use in half.
47. #184 Put decorative fountains on timers and use only during work or daylight hours. Check for leaks if you have automatic refilling devices.
48. #185 Wash company vehicles at commercial car washers that recycle water.
49. #186 Wash company vehicles as needed rather than on a schedule. Stretch out the time in between washes.
50. #187 Consider turning your high-maintenance water feature/fountain into a low-maintenance art feature or planter.
51. #188 When buying new appliances, consider those that offer cycle and load size adjustments. They are more water and energy efficient.
52. #189 Support projects that use reclaimed wastewater for irrigation and industrial uses.
53. #190 When ice cubes are leftover from your drink, don’t throw them out. Pour them on a plant.