Water conservation is very important and these nine changes can help reduce water consumption. Washing your dishes by hand does save water, but having your car washed by a professional uses less water than doing it yourself. Showering with a bucket not only uses less water, but can be reused to water a garden. Gardens should also be planted with native flora, which is adapted to local conditions. Some technology can help, too. Adding a shut-off nozzle to your hose prevents unnecessary usage, as does making sure that new appliances are Energy Star or WaterSense certified and are high-efficiency. Covering your pool will also slow evaporation and water loss. Finally, check your toilet for leaks using dye tablets, which may be available from your local utility company. It’s also a good idea to check all faucets and connections on a monthly basis for drips.

Key Takeaways:

• Longer and more severe droughts resulting from climate change means everyone should be looking to save water.
• Catching water in a bucket while you shower means you have grey water suitable for watering your plants.
• Putting food coloring in the tank of your toilet can help identify leaks that could be wasting up to 100 gallons a day of water.

“It may feel more virtuous to wash by hand, but it’s actually more wasteful: You use up to 27 gallons of water per load by hand versus as little as 3 gallons with an ENERGY STAR-rated dishwasher.”

Read more: https://www.nrdc.org/stories/9-tricks-save-tons-water