There are a number of strategies we can use to limit our water use and conserve this precious resource. These tips range from simple practices to more involved lifestyle changes. We invite you to familiarize yourselves with the methods on this page and adapt a few – or all! – of them in your home, your workplace, and your daily life.

If each person can implement a single water-wise principle, we can collectively work our way to significant water savings. If we each save a little, we’ll all save a lot. Slow the Flow: Save H2O.

    1. Never pour water down the drain when there may be another use for it such as watering a plant or garden, or for cleaning around your home.
    2. Don’t let the water run while brushing your teeth or shaving.
    3. Place water-efficient appliances in your home, including slow-flow showerheads or water-sense approved toilets.
    4. Verify that your home is leak free. Read your water meter before and after a two-hour period when no water is being used. If the meter does not read exactly the same, there is possible leak.
    5. Repair dripping faucets. If your faucet is dripping at a rate of one drop per second, you can expect to waste 2,700 gallons per year.
    6. Retrofit all household faucets by installing aerators with flow restrictors to slow the flow of water.
    7. Check for toilet tank leaks by adding food coloring to the tank. If the toilet is leaking, color will appear in the toilet bowl within 30 minutes. Check the toilet for a worn out flapper. Most replacement parts are inexpensive, readily available and easily installed. (Flush as soon as test is done, since food coloring may stain tank.)
    8. If the toilet handle frequently sticks in the flush position letting water run constantly, replace or adjust it.
    9. When purchasing new or replacement toilets, consider low-volume units that use less than half the water of older models.
    10. Take shorter showers by two minutes and save an hour of running water per month. Replace your showerhead with a low-flow version.
    11. Place a bucket in the shower to catch excess water and use this to water plants. The same technique can be used when washing dishes or vegetables in the sink.
    12. Operate automatic dishwashers and clothes washers only when they are fully loaded. Set the water level for the size of load you are using.
    13. When washing dishes by hand, fill one sink or basin with soapy water. Quickly rinse under a slow-moving stream from the faucet.
    14. Store drinking water in the refrigerator. Don’t let the tap run while you are waiting for cool water to flow.
    15. Do not use running water to thaw meat or other frozen foods. Defrost food overnight in the refrigerator or use the defrost setting on your microwave.
    16. Kitchen sink disposals require lots of water to operate properly. Start a vegetable compost pile as an alternate method of disposing of food waste, instead of using a garbage disposal.
    17. Consider installing an instant water heater on your kitchen sink so you don’t have to let the water run while it heats up.