In the bathroom:
- Turn off the water when you brush your teeth or shave.
- Repair leaky toilets. To find out if you have a leak, put a little food coloring in the toilet tank. If, without flushing, the color appears in the bowl you have a leak.
- Repair leaky faucets and pipes. The smallest drip from a worn washer can waste twenty or more gallons per day. Larger leaks can waste hundreds of gallons.
- If you have an old toilet, replace it with a 1.6 gallon ultra low flush toilet. Old toilets use 5 gallons per flush.
- Don’t use the toilet as a wastebasket.
- Take shorter showers.
- Install water saving showerheads and faucets. Your local hardware store stocks inexpensive, easy to install fixtures.
- Take baths. A bath in a partially filled tub uses less water than all but the shortest showers.
In the kitchen and laundry:
- Use your washing machine and dishwasher only for full loads.
- Repair leaky faucets and pipes.
- If you wash dishes by hand, don’t leave the water running.
- Use the garbage disposal less often.
- Don’t let the faucet run when you clean vegetables.
- Keep a container of cold water in the refridgerator or use ice, rather than running the tap until the water is cold.
- Defrost frozen foods in the refrigerator rather than under running water.
Other ways to be Water Smart:
- At restaurants, only ask for water if you want it.
- At work, use a glass rather than drinking from the fountain.
