When washing dishes by hand, don't let the water run. Fill one basin with wash water and the other with rinse water.
Designate one glass for your drinking water each day, or refill a water bottle. This will cut down on the number of glasses to wash.
Soak pots and pans instead of letting the water run while you scrape them clean.
Wash your fruits and vegetables in a pan of water instead of running water from the tap.
Don't use running water to thaw food. For water efficiency and food safety, defrost food in the refrigerator.
Keep a pitcher of drinking water in the refrigerator instead of running the tap. This way, every drop goes down you and not the drain.
Reuse leftover water from cooked or steamed foods to start a nutritious soup, it's one more way to get eight glasses of water a day.
Cook food in as little water as possible. This also helps it retain more nutrients.
Select the proper pan size for cooking. Large pans may require more cooking water than necessary.
If you accidentally drop ice cubes, don't throw them in the sink. Drop them in a house plant instead.
Collect the water you use while rinsing fruit and vegetables. Use it to water house plants.
When doing laundry, match the water level to the size of the load.
Only run your washing machine when there is a full wash load.
Have a plumber re-route your greywater to trees and plants rather than the sewer line.
If your shower fills a one-gallon bucket in less than 20 seconds, replace the showerhead a low pressure one.
Shorten your shower by a minute or two and you'll save up to 150 gallons per month.
Time your shower to keep it under 5 minutes. You'll save up to 1,000 gallons per month.
Toilet leaks can be silent! Be sure to test your toilet for leaks at least twice a year.
Put food coloring in your toilet tank. If it seeps into the bowl without flushing, there's a leak. Fix it and start saving gallons.
If your toilet flapper doesn't close properly after flushing, replace it.
Turn off the water while you brush your teeth and save up to 4 gallons a minute. That's up to 200 gallons a week for a family of four.
Consider buying a dual-flush toilet. It has two flush options: a half-flush for liquid waste and a full-flush for solid waste.
Plug the sink instead of running the water to rinse your razor and save up to 300 gallons a month.
Turn off the water while washing your hair and save up to 150 gallons a month.
When washing your hands, turn the water off while you lather.
Drop tissues in the trash instead of flushing them and save water every time.
One drip every second adds up to five gallons per day! Check your faucets and showerheads for leaks.
While you wait for hot water, collect the running water and use it to water plants.
Teach children to turn off faucets tightly after each use.
Encourage your school system to develop and promote water conservation among children and adults.
Monitor your water bill for unusually high use. Your bill and water meter are tools that can help you discover leaks.
Learn how to use your water meter to check for leaks.
Reward kids for the water-saving tips they follow.
We're more likely to notice leaky faucets indoors, but don't forget to check outdoor faucets, pipes, and hoses.
See a leak you can't fix? Tell an employer, or property manager, or call a handyman.
To cut down on water waste, put an inch or two of sand or pebbles inside each of two plastic bottles to weigh them down. Fill the bottles with water, screw the lids on, and put them in your toilet tank, safely away from the operating mechanisms. Or, buy an inexpensive tank bank or float booster. This may save ten or more gallons of water per day.
Group plants with the same watering needs together to avoid over watering some while under watering others.
Start a compost pile. Using compost in your garden or flower beds adds water-holding organic matter to the soil.
Use a layer of organic mulch on the surface of your planting beds to minimize weed growth that competes for water.
Use a rain barrel to harvest rainwater from gutters for watering gardens and landscapes.
For hanging baskets, planters and pots, put ice cubes on top of the soil to give your plants a cool drink of water without overflow.
Use a commercial car wash that recycles water. Or, wash your car on the lawn, and you'll water your grass at the same time.
Use a hose nozzle or turn off the water while you wash your car. You'll save up to 100 gallons every time.
When cleaning out fish tanks, give the nutrient-rich water to your non-edible plants.
Report broken pipes, leaky hydrants and errant sprinklers to property owners or your local water provider.
Know where your master water shut-off valve is located. Were a pipe to burst, this could save gallons of water and prevent damage.
Follow NAWASAGrenada on Twitter