How Can People Conserve Water at Home?

The average American wastes up to 30 gallons of water every single day. That’s almost 11,000 gallons of water per year. Now more than ever, conservation should be a priority.

But you don’t need to make massive sacrifices in order to conserve water. With just a few simple habits and lifestyle adjustments, you can be a major part of the solution.

So how can people conserve water at home? It’s easy. Here are some simple ways to save water.

1. Turn Off the Water While Brushing Your Teeth

You’re supposed to brush your teeth for at least two minutes at a time. But most people leave the water on while brushing. This can waste up to 8 gallons of water per day, according to UNICEF.

So if you want to know how to save water at home easily, turn the water off while you brush. It takes very little effort, but it can make a big difference. If you're wondering how can people conserve water at home, simple actions like this can help reduce your water usage significantly.

2. Use a Dishwasher Instead of Hand-Washing

The average dishwasher uses 6 to 10 gallons of water per cycle. This might sound like a lot, but washing by hand can actually use much more water, as you have the tap running for 5, 10, or even 15 minutes at a time.

The best way to reduce water here is to skip the hand-washing altogether and—ideally—opt for an Energy Star-certified dishwasher that can improve your water efficiency by up to 30%.

Also, don’t pre-wash your dishes; this is typically unnecessary with modern dishwashers.

3. Collect Your Running Water in a Pitcher

Here’s another great tip for how can people conserve water at home. Instead of letting your sink water run down the drain while you wait for it to get cold, collect it in a pitcher and place it in the fridge to drink later.

If you use a water filter pitcher, you can easily enjoy high-quality filtered water whenever you’re in the mood for it.

4. Use Cold Water to Wash Your Laundry

How can people conserve water at home? Two words: Cold water. You don’t need hot water to wash your clothes effectively. Use the cold setting on your washing machine, and get your clothes just as clean with less water usage.

As much as 90% of a washing machine’s energy is used to heat the water, so you can save time, water, and energy consumption by going cold.

5. Use Full Loads in the Washing Machine

A standard load of laundry will use the same amount of water whether you have a week’s worth of clothes or a couple of shirts. So wait until you have a full load to wash, and do all of the laundry at once.

Doing this consistently can save you 3,400 gallons of water every year. If you want to know how to save water at home, this habit should definitely be on your list.

6. Opt for Showers Instead of Baths

It takes a lot of water to fill a bathtub. Save that water by taking short showers with a standard or low-flow showerhead. Avoid high-powered showerheads, as these can contribute to additional water wastage that exceeds even that of baths.

7. Use a Shower Filter

Install a shower filtration system in your shower. This will help to reduce the presence of hard water and contaminants, thereby reducing the effects of hard water on your hair and allowing you to take shorter showers while still enjoying healthy hair, skin, and nails.

8. Reuse Your Pasta Water

Most people toss their used pasta water down the drain, but this water can be reused. If you're wondering how can people conserve water at home, this is a simple yet effective way. Next time, save the water for your next batch of pasta or let it cool and use it to water your plants.

It’s completely safe to reuse, and it can even add flavor to subsequent batches of noodles.

9. Install a High-Efficiency Toilet

How can people conserve water at home without even thinking about it? The toilet is a great place to start. It’s estimated that older toilets can use up to 7 gallons of water with every flush.

With a high-efficiency or low-flow toilet, you can reduce this number to as little as 1.28 gallons per flush. If you want to know how to save water at home, it doesn’t get any simpler than this.

10. Use a Broom to Clean Your Driveway

Don’t use a hose to wash down your driveway if you don’t have to. A single yard cleaning with a hose can use up to 150 gallons of water. When possible, just opt for a standard broom or push broom.

You’ll still get your driveway and sidewalks clean in just a few minutes, but without wasting water.

11. Inquire About a Home Water Audit

Keep a close eye on your water bill. If your water usage seems suspiciously high, or if you notice any unexplained increases or spikes, it might be worth contacting your local water utility and asking for a home water audit.

There are also household water audit kits you can purchase. By some estimates, a home water audit can end up saving you 20 to 30 gallons of wastage per day.

12. Use Outdoor Water Sparingly

Be especially mindful of your outdoor water usage. Some communities will recycle the water that’s used indoors, but water used outdoors is typically lost forever.

There are simple ways to save water outdoors, such as by watering your lawn only as much as needed (and not during peak hours). You can also install rain sensors on your irrigation systems to prevent unnecessary water usage.

Also, make sure that your sprinklers are properly situated for maximum effectiveness where they’re needed most.

13. Use Buckets to Conserve Water

Buckets are your friend, and you can use them all over the house to conserve water. For example, you can collect water in the shower waiting for it to get hot. Use it in the sink while waiting for water to get cold.

If you're asking how can people conserve water at home, installing a rain barrel is another excellent idea. This surplus water can then be used to water plants, wash the car, make tea, or serve any other purpose that you need. When it comes to simple ways to save water, it doesn’t get much easier.