Water

Why It Matters

Only 1% of the Earth’s water is available for human use, so as parts of the country face extended and severe drought conditions, it becomes increasingly important for us to use water more responsibly.

Top 5 Tips for Reducing Water Use

1. Fix leaks. Ask your property manager to fix any leaks in your home – a leak of one drip per second can cost $1 per month and can waste 10,000 gallons of water per year (which is enough to do 270+ loads of laundry).

2. Time your showers. A shower uses 2.5 gallons of water per minute, so taking a 5 minute shower instead of an 8 minute shower (the average) cuts water usage by almost 3,000 gallons per year.

3. Don’t wash your dishes. Don't wash your dishes before putting them in the dishwasher – it saves up to 10 gallons of water per load of dishes.

4. Fill 'er up. Run your dishwasher and washing machine less often by waiting until you have full loads; if you must run your washing machine before it’s full, make sure to adjust the water level accordingly.

5. Turn it off. Turn off the tap while brushing your teeth or shaving – it can save over 200 gallons of water per month.

Digging Deeper

Explore how your choices throughout the day can impact your water footprint in this infographic.

Get a better idea of your own water usage.

Learn about how water and energy use are related with this infographic.

Make your own water displacer to use less water every time you flush your toilet.