KITCHEN AND LAUNDRY
Use automatic dishwashers only for full loads. Every time a dishwasher is operated, about 17 gallons of water are used. Make each gallon count.
When washing dishes by hand, do not leave the water running for rinsing. If two sinks are used, fill one with soapy water and one with rinse water. If one sink is used, gather all the washed dishes in the dish rack and rinse them with an inexpensive spray device.
Do not let the faucet run while cleaning vegetables. The same purpose can be served by putting a stopper in the sink and filling the sink with clean water.
Keep a bottle of drinking water in the refrigerator. This ends the wasteful practice of running tap water to cool it for drinking. Storing water in the refrigerator also has the nice effect of removing any chlorine taste out of the water.
Use automatic washing machines only for full loads. Automatic washers use 30 to 35 gallons of water for a few garments.
Check faucets and pipes for leaks. Leaks waste water 24 hours a day, seven days a week and often can be repaired with a very inexpensive washer. Not only will repairing leaks conserve water, the effort may save on the water bill.
BATHROOM
Check toilets for leaks. A leak in the toilet, that can neither be seen nor heard, may be wasting more than 100 gallons of water a day. To check for leaks, put a little food coloring in the toilet tank. If, without flushing, the coloring begins to appear in the bowl, the tank is leaking and should be repaired immediately.
Take shorter showers. Long, hot showers waste five to 10 gallons of water every unneeded minute. Limit showers to the time it takes to soap up, wash, and rinse off.
Install water-saving shower heads or flow restrictors. Most shower heads put out five to 10 gallons water a minute, while three gallons are actually enough for a refreshing, cleansing shower.
Take baths. A bath in a partially filled tub uses less water than all but the shortest showers.
Turn off the water after wetting toothbrushes. After wetting a toothbrush and filling a glass for rinsing, there is no need to keep water running down the drain.
Rinse razors in the sink. Before shaving, fill the bottom of the sink with a few inches of warm water. This will rinse razor blades just as efficiently as running water, and is far less wasteful.
