According to the Environmental Protection Agency's WaterSense program, the United States would save more than 3 trillion gallons of water and $18 billion per year if every household installed water-efficient appliances. Individual households could save about $170 per year on the water bill alone, not to mention harness the energy savings, too; according to the EPA, letting your faucet run for 5 minutes uses as much energy as leaving a 60-watt light bulb on for 14 hours.
Look for the WaterSense Label
Shop for showerheads, faucets, toilets, urinals and even new homes that have the WaterSense label. This label indicates that the products in question meet EPA standards for water efficiency and performance.
Shut It Off
Turn the water off while you're brushing your teeth or shaving. Also, if you're washing dishes, fill one side of the sink with hot soapy water and the other side with clear water instead of letting the water run as you wash.
Bathe Briefly
Take short showers instead of baths. According to the Utah Division of Water Resources, doing this once can save between 45 and 58 gallons of water.
Load Up
Don't run the dishwasher or clothes washer until they are fully loaded. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, you can save 10 to 20 gallons of water each day by waiting until the dishwasher is full before you run it.
Repair Leaks
Fix leaks in toilets and faucets right away. Every drop that leaks out goes to waste. According to the Utah Division of Water Resources, leaks add up to about one-sixth of the typical home's water usage.
Install Aerators
Installing aerators on every faucet in your house could save as much as 1 gallon of water for every minute you use the faucets.
Use Local Plants
Landscaping with plants that are indigenous to the area can reduce your water usage for outdoor plants by more than 50 percent. Once your plants are in, irrigate during early morning or evening to reduce water wastage due to evaporation.
Car Wash
Turn the hose off between rinses when washing your car. This can save as many as 150 gallons of water. The same rule applies when washing out other items, such as coolers, fishing gear or camping gear.
Sweep
Sweep your sidewalk and driveway clean instead of hosing them down; not using the hose can save as much as 10 gallons of water per minute.
Drink Wisely
Choose a glass to use for drinking throughout the entire day instead of dirtying several glasses. This means you won't have to run the dishwasher or wash dishes by hand as frequently. Give any leftover water to your indoor plants.
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