How to Conserve Water ~AND~
Reduce Your Water Bill
Do not let the water run while you are brushing your teeth. Only a tiny bit of water is needed to wet the toothpase, and the tap can be turned on at the end for rinsing.
Shave your face with a little water in the sink or a cup instead of letting the tap run.
You can shave your legs with a little water in the sink or a bowl instead of while the shower is running, or turn the faucet off while you shave in the shower.
Do not let the water run while you are washing dishes. Fill a dishpan for rinsing dishes.
After boiling eggs and letting the water cool, pour the used water in your garden. The water is not wasted, and it is a great fertilizer.
After a bath, don't drain the water out but use it for flushing toilets.
During drought conditions, you can get by without flushing the toilet after every use (urine only) if you keep the lid shut.
Fix all leaks. Check for toilet tank leaks by adding food coloring to the tank. If the toilet is leaking, color will appear in the bowl within 30 minutes (flush as soon as test is done, since food coloring may stain tank).
Close the drain in the tub before filling. You can turn off the cold water before the hot if the tub water is too cool, but cold water is not wasted while you wait for it to turn hot.
Sweep the driveway, porches, and sidewalks instead of hosing them off.
When watering flowerbeds or lawns, stop before water runs onto paved areas.
You can usually water lawns much less than you think, and it can get by with less water if you raise the mower height.
Don't water lawns when it is windy.
Don't allow water to run constantly while washing your car. Turn it on only for necessary rinsing. Washing the car out of direct sunlight saves water and your paint job.
Using a commercial carwash that recycles water will use less water than if you do it yourself.
Watering in the heat of the day allows much of the water to evaporate, and it is not good for plants or grass.
If you do not have a low-flow toilet, adding a two-liter bottle filled with water and stones to the tank will save water with every flush.
If it is warm enough, you can turn the water off in the shower while you lather up and only use the water for rinsing.
Line baking trays with foil for little or no washing afterwards.
Most newer (and many older) dishwashers will clean your plates and silverware on their own without your rinsing them first, just scrape food into the trash or compost pile first.
Your drinks will need less ice if you make them ahead and put them in the refrigerator to get cold.
Use blue ice or a two-liter bottle of frozen water in your cooler instead of ice cubes. They can be put back into the freezer for future use.
If you do use ice cubes in your cooler, allow the water to drain in the flowerbed or on the lawn instead of in the gutter.
Use a barrel to catch rain water for watering the flowers and lawn later, or flushing toilets. If you use a brand new (washed out) barrel with a lid, you can even use this water for drinking or cooking.
Let your downspouts drain into a barrel for watering flowers and lawns later.
Photo courtesy of budgetstockphoto.com.
