When it comes to conserving water, small adjustments can have a big impact. Conserve water with ideas from our 100+ water-saving tips.

INDOOR TIPS

KITCHEN

• #1 When washing dishes by hand, don’t let the water run. Fill one basin with wash water and the other with rinse water.
• #2 Dishwashers typically use less water than washing dishes by hand. Now, Energy Star dishwashers save even more water and energy.
• #3 If your dishwasher is new, cut back on rinsing. Newer models clean more thoroughly than older ones.
• #4 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.
• #5 Soak pots and pans instead of letting the water run while you scrape them clean.
• #6 Use the garbage disposal sparingly. Instead, compost vegetable food waste and save gallons every time.
• #7 Wash your fruits and vegetables in a pan of water instead of running water from the tap.
• #8 Don’t use running water to thaw food. For water efficiency and food safety, defrost food in the refrigerator.
• #9 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.
• #10 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.
• #11 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.
• #12 Cook food in as little water as possible. This also helps it retain more nutrients.
• #13 Select the proper pan size for cooking. Large pans may require more cooking water than necessary.
• #14 If you accidentally drop ice cubes, don’t throw them in the sink. Drop them in a house plant instead.
• #15 Collect the water you use while rinsing fruit and vegetables. Use it to water house plants.
• #16 When shopping for a new dishwasher, use the Consortium for Energy Efficiency website to compare water use between models.

LAUNDRY ROOM

• #17 When doing laundry, match the water level to the size of the load.
• #18 Washing dark clothes in cold water saves water and energy, and helps your clothes retain their color.
• #19 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.
• #20 Have a plumber re-route your greywater to trees and plants rather than the sewer line. Check with your city and county for codes.
• #21 When buying a washer, check the Consortium for Energy Efficiency website to compare water use between models.

BATHROOM

• #22 If your shower fills a one-gallon bucket in less than 20 seconds, replace the showerhead with a WaterSense® labeled model.
• #23 Shorten your shower by a minute or two and you’ll save up to 150 gallons per month.
• #24 Time your shower to keep it under 5 minutes. You’ll save up to 1,000 gallons per month.
• #25 Toilet leaks can be silent! Be sure to test your toilet for leaks at least once a year.
• #26 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.
• #27 When running a bath, plug the bathtub before turning on the water. Adjust the temperature as the tub fills.
• #28 Upgrade older toilets with water-saving WaterSense® labeled models.
• #29 If your toilet flapper doesn’t close properly after flushing, replace it.
• #30 Use a WaterSense® labeled showerhead. They’re inexpensive, easy to install, and can save you up to 750 gallons a month.
• #31 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.
• #32 If your toilet was installed before 1992, purchasing a WaterSense® labeled toilet can reduce the amount of water used for each flush.
• #33 Consider buying a dual-flush toilet. It has two flush options: a half-flush for liquid waste and a full-flush for solid waste.
• #34 Plug the sink instead of running the water to rinse your razor and save up to 300 gallons a month.
• #35 Turn off the water while washing your hair and save up to 150 gallons a month.
• #36 When washing your hands, turn the water off while you lather.
• #37 Take 5-minute showers instead of baths. A full bathtub requires up to 70 gallons of water.
• #38 Install water-saving aerators on all of your faucets.
• #39 Drop tissues in the trash instead of flushing them and save water every time.
• #40 Look for WaterSense® labeled toilets, sink faucets, urinals and showerheads.
• #41 One drip every second adds up to five gallons per day! Check your faucets and showerheads for leaks.
• #42 While you wait for hot water, collect the running water and use it to water plants.

GENERAL INDOOR

• #43 Teach children to turn off faucets tightly after each use.
• #44 See how your water use stacks up to others by calculating your daily water use.
• #45 When the kids want to cool off, use the sprinkler in an area where your lawn needs it most.
• #46 Encourage your school system and local government to develop and promote water conservation among children and adults.
• #47 Monitor your water bill for unusually high use. Your bill and water meter are tools that can help you discover leaks.
• #48 Learn how to use your water meter to check for leaks.
• #49 Reward kids for the water-saving tips they follow.
• #50 Avoid recreational water toys that require a constant flow of water.
• #51 Grab a wrench and fix that leaky faucet. It’s simple, inexpensive, and you can save 140 gallons a week.
• #52. We’re more likely to notice leaky faucets indoors, but don’t forget to check outdoor faucets, pipes, and hoses.
• #53. See a leak you can’t fix? Tell a parent, teacher, employer, or property manager, or call a handyman.
• #54 At home or while staying in a hotel, reuse your towels.
• #55 Run your washer and dishwasher only when they are full. You can save up to 1,000 gallons a month.

OUTDOOR TIPS

XERISCAPE LANDSCAPING

• #56 Use porous material for walkways and patios to prevent wasteful runoff and keep water in your yard.
• #63 Group with the same watering needs together to avoid overwatering some while underwatering others.
• #64 Plant shrubs and ground covers appropriate to your site and region.
• #65 Plant in the spring and fall, when the watering requirements are lower.
• #66 Avoid planting grass in areas that are hard to water, such as steep inclines and isolated strips along sidewalks and driveways.
• #67 Leave lower branches on trees and shrubs and allow leaf litter to accumulate on the soil. This keeps the soil cooler and reduces evaporation.
• #68 Start a compost pile. Using compost in your garden or flower beds adds water-holding organic matter to the soil.
• #69 Use a layer of organic mulch on the surface of your planting beds to minimize weed growth that competes for water.
• #70 Spreading a layer of organic mulch around plants helps them retain moisture, saving water, time and money.
• #71 Use 2 to 4 inches of organic mulch around plants to reduce evaporation and save hundreds of gallons of water a year.
• #72 Next time you add or replace a flower or shrub, choose a low-water-use plant and save up to 550 gallons each year.
• #73 Collect water from your roof by installing gutters and downspouts. Direct the runoff to plants and trees.
• #74 For automatic water savings, direct water from rain gutters and HVAC systems to water-loving plants in your landscape.

LAWN CARE

• #86 Read the Landscape Watering by the Numbers guidebook to help you determine how long and how much to water.
• #87 Use a trowel, shovel, or soil probe to examine soil moisture depth. If the top two to three inches of soil are dry, it’s time to water.
• #88 Set a kitchen timer or alarm on your phone when using the hose as a reminder to turn it off. A running hose can discharge up to 10 gallons per minute.
• #89 Check your sprinkler system frequently and adjust sprinklers so only your lawn is watered and not the house, sidewalk or street.
• #90 Minimize evaporation by watering during the early morning hours when temperatures are cooler and winds are lighter.
• #91 Timing is everything when it comes to irrigation. Learn how to set your controller properly.
• #92 Look for WaterSense® labeled irrigation controllers.
• #93 Learn how to shut off your automatic watering system in case of malfunctions or rain.
• #94 Apply water only as fast as the soil can absorb it.
• #95 If water runs off your lawn easily, split your watering time into shorter periods to allow for better absorption.
• #96 Water only when necessary. More plants die from over-watering than from under-watering.
• #97 Signs of overwatering: Leaves turn lighter shades of green or yellow, young shoots wilt, and sometimes algae or fungi grow.
• #98 Water your plants deeply but less frequently to encourage deep root growth and drought tolerance.
• #99 Use sprinklers that deliver big drops of water close to the ground. Smaller drops and mist often evaporate before hitting the ground.
• #100 Use a rain barrel to harvest rainwater from gutters for watering gardens and landscapes.
• #101 For hanging baskets, planters and pots, put ice cubes on top of the soil to give your plants a cool drink of water without overflow.

GENERAL OUTDOOR

• #102 Winterize outdoor spigots when temperatures dip below freezing to prevent pipes from leaking or bursting.
• #103 For more immediate hot water and energy savings, insulate hot water pipes.
• #104 Wash your pets outdoors, in an area of your lawn that needs water.
• #105 When cleaning out fish tanks, give the nutrient-rich water to your non-edible plants.
• #106 When you give your pet fresh water, don’t throw the old water down the drain. Use it to water your trees or shrubs.
• #107 Use a broom instead of a hose to clean patios, sidewalks and driveways, and save water every time.
• #108 Set water softeners for a minimum number of refills to save both water and chemicals, plus energy, too.