While it varies based on the size of your household and how long you spend in the shower, the average household uses roughly 80–100 gallons (300–380 L) of water a day. This comes out to 2,400–3,000 gallons (9,100–11,400 L) a month. [5] X Trustworthy Source U. S. Geological Survey U. S. government agency responsible for conducting scientific research on the nation’s land, natural resources, and natural disasters Go to source If that seems like a lot of water, it’s because it is! This is one of the main reasons saving water is important. Check your toilet for internal leaks by pouring a drop of food coloring in your toilet’s tank and waiting 10 minutes. If the food coloring shows up in the bowl, you have a leaky toilet to fix or replace. [6] X Trustworthy Source United States Environmental Protection Agency Independent U. S. government agency responsible for promoting safe environmental practices Go to source

For every 1 minute your tap is running, you’re pouring 1⁄4 US gal (0. 95 L) of water down the drain, so this definitely adds up over time. [9] X Research source

If you’re thinking about switching to baths to conserve water, keep in mind that a bath typically requires 30 gallons (110 L) of water while a short shower will only use 10–25 gallons (38–95 L). [12] X Research source

Depending on when your toilet was manufactured, a single flush requires 1–8 gallons (3. 8–30. 3 L) of water. [15] X Research source That’s a lot of water over time!

You may stumble across a website or two that suggests using sand instead of pebbles. But if your bag or bottle isn’t airtight and the sand gets into the water, it may mess with your toilet’s flush valve. Do this at your own discretion.

If you don’t have the time or money to upgrade your fixtures, at least install a cheap aerator on each of your faucets to throttle the water flow. The odds are high you won’t even notice it’s there!

If you’re thinking about throwing that dishwasher out altogether to conserve water, keep in mind that running your dishwasher will almost always use less water than hand-washing your dishes. [23] X Research source

While it may feel counterintuitive, washing or cleaning clothes with too much water will actually keep your clothes from getting completely clean, so you’ll get fresher whites and deeper colors by washing full loads too![27] X Trustworthy Source Consumer Reports Nonprofit organization dedicated to consumer advocacy and product testing Go to source

You can buy a pitcher with a filter on it if you want to improve the quality and the taste of the water you keep in your fridge!

As a rule of thumb, front-loading washers use less water than top-loading machines. [35] X Research source If you can, buy appliances that are also energy-efficient. In the United States, look for appliances with the Energy Star sticker. [36] X Trustworthy Source Energy Star Program run by the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Energy focused on educating consumers about energy efficiency Go to source

Set your lawnmower blades to be 2–3 inches (5. 1–7. 6 cm) high when mowing, since longer grass helps soil retain moisture, which can help fight droughts. [40] X Research source Collecting rainwater is easier than you may think. Just divert your gutters to run off into a large bin. [41] X Research source

Feel free to compost any veggies, fruits, bread, or grains. Coffee grounds and eggshells are great for compost as well. [45] X Research source Stay away from composting meat or dairy. These items tend to take too long to break down and they’ll attract rats, raccoons, and other pests. [46] X Research source

There are waterless cleaning products that you can use to clean your vehicle. This will cut out the need for water entirely![50] X Research source