There Are a Number of Ways to Save Water,
and They All Start with You.

1. When washing dishes by hand, do not let the water run while rinsing. Fill one sink with wash water and the other with rinse water.
2. Run your washing machine and dishwasher only when they are full. You can save 1000 gallons a month.
3. Use the garbage disposal sparingly. Compost instead, and save gallons every time.
4. Plant during the spring or fall when the watering requirements are lower.
5. Keep a pitcher of water in the refrigerator instead of running the tap for cold drinks, so that every drop goes down you, not the drain.
6. Collect the water you use for rinsing produce and re-use it to water houseplants.
7. Time your shower to keep it under 5 minutes. You'll save up to 1000 gallons a month.
8. When you clean your fish tank, use the water you've drained on your plants. The water is rich in nitrogen and phosphorus, providing you with a free and effective fertilizer.
9. Plug the bathtub before turning the water on, then adjust the temperature as the tub fills up.
10. Do not use running water to thaw food.
11. Designate one glass for your drinking water each day. This will cut down on the number of times you run your dishwasher.
12. Grab a wrench and fix that leaky faucet. It is simple and inexpensive, and can save 140 gallons a week.
13. When doing laundry, match the water level to the size of the load.
14. Soak your pots and pans instead of letting the water run while you scrape them clean.
15. Use a commercial car wash that recycles water.
16. Turn off the water while you brush your teeth and save 4 gallons a minue. That's 200 gallons a week for a family of four.
17. Encourage your school system and local government to help develop and promote a conservation ethic among children and adults.
18. Do one thing each day that will save water. Even if savings are small, every drop counts.
19. Encourage your friends and neighbors to be part of a water-conscious community.
20. Wash clothes only when you have a full load and save up to 600 gallons a month.
21. Be sure to water plants only when necessary. More plants die from over-watering than from underwatering.
22. Cook food in as little water as possible. This will also retain more of the nutrients.
23. Turn the water off while you shampoo and condition your hair. You can save more than 50 gallons a week.
24. Choose new water-saving appliances, like washing machines that save up to 20 gallons per load.
25. Select the proper size pans for cooking. Large pans require more cooking water than may be necessary.
26. If you accidentally drop ice cubes when filling your glass form the freezer, do not throw them in the sink. Drop them in a house plant instead.
27. While staying in a hotel or even at home, consider reusing your towels.
28. When you have ice left in your cup from a take-out restaurant, do not throw it in the trash; dump it on a plant.
29. Keep a bucket in the shower to catch water as it warms up or runs. Use this water to flush toilets or water plants.

Water-Saving Tips from www.wateruseitwisely.com

Joint the efforts of the United Nations to help conserve, preserve and ensure the world's limited water supply. See www.un.org/waterforlifedecade or www.unwater.org.

Click here for a Water for Life Decade fact sheet.