Five Practical Solutions to Help Save Water in Your Household

Don't Flush the Toilet

• Urine generally can stay in a toilet bowl safely for up to a day before it needs to be flushed down. This can allow multiple uses of the toilet and adds up to considerable savings in unflushed water over time. A phrase that came into popularity during the 1960s is still having an influence on those who are trying to save water: "If it's yellow, let it mellow. If it's brown, flush it down."

Use Water-Saving Appliances

• Toilets, washing machines, showerheads and sprinkler hoses combine to create the largest use of water in a home. Newer appliances that meet or exceed government standards for water usage will save money over time in reduced water costs. Side-loading washers use 40 percent less water than top-load washers do, and are more gentle on the clothes. Using a more efficient showerhead can save a family of four almost 8,000 gallons of water in a year.

Minimize Outside Water Use

• Over-watering outside wastes large quantities of water in many households. Only water as much as necessary, water what is necessary and only when it is necessary. Poorly aimed sprinklers can wash a perfectly clean sidewalk for a hour every day when the plants 10 feet away never receive any moisture. Planting native plants that require less water and allowing your grass to grow a little longer will also reduce the amount of water you need. Do two jobs at once by washing the car over the grass instead of over a driveway, where the water runs into a drain.

Stop Drips

• A dripping faucet or toilet can waste hundreds of gallons in a week. Many faucets and toilets can be fixed with a simple DIY kit from hardware stores. For those unable to do their own repairs, the monetary savings can justify calling in a professional to do the job. If you suspect that you have a drip somewhere because of the large water bills, it is easy to find out. Close all the faucets and other uses of water in the home and wait for 60 minutes. Check your water meter, and if it is registering that water is being used, you probably have a drip.

Recycle Water

• "Greywater" refers water from the home that has already been used for some purposes, but is still good for some other uses. For instance, by using soaps, shampoos and conditioners that don't contain harsh or harmful chemicals, your bathtub or shower water, dishwater or clothes-washing water can double to keep the flower garden blooming. Reconfiguring the plumbing might be an initially steep expense, but the savings will add up year after year. Rain barrels that catch water from the downspouts also provide water for lawns and gardens.