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I’ve lived in the Northeast my entire life, & despite an occasional drought during the summer, water-shortages have never been a major concern. Why? Living up here, you are sure to bump into a lake, pond, river, or stream without having to go too far. It was not until after learning about the current droughts over in Australia, South Africa, & England, that I began to question my in-home uses of fresh water.

If you have ever Googled the term ‘water saving tips’ or something similar, you’re bound to find thousands of household hints you can implement. For this article I have selected a few of the simplest, yet most effective ways to reduce your household fresh-water consumption.

Tip 1: Install a low-flow showerhead. Look for models which offer 2.75gpm or lower. This is the easiest & quickest way to reduce both your water & energy (heat) consumption.

Tip 2: Check for leaks around your house. Assuming a faucet is dripping at one drop per second, you will use 2,700 gallons in a year.

Tip 3: Only use dishwasher/washing machines when they’re filled. Also, look for appliances with the Energy Star rating.

Tip 4: Use waterless car washing products when cleaning your vehicles. A traditional bucket & sponge wash can use up to 140 gallons of water!

Tip 5: Don’t leave water on when brushing your teeth, shaving, washing face, etc. Basically, use it only when you need it.

These are only a few tips of the thousands that are out there. I had recommend these other sites if you need more information:

http://www.wateruseitwisely.com
http://www.waterconserve.info
http://www.ecotouch.net

Lastly, if you are curious about what the water supply is like in your area, the US Drought Monitor has an excellent site showing water levels across the United States. There is more. They can be easily found here - http://www.drought.unl.edu/dm/monitor.html.

James Dudra is an ecopreneur from Portsmouth, New Hampshire. He currently owns & runs eco touch LLC, which sells a complete line of earth-friendly waterless car care products at eco touch? waterless car wash + polish

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