Home The Science of Better Living 6 Ways To Save Water at Home

May 2022

· 2 min read

6 Ways To Save Water at Home

Looking to help save the planet? You can take some small steps with water conservation at home to make a big splash.
River landscape with trees and blue skies - 6 Ways to Save Water at Home | NSF

Many of us pride ourselves on doing our part to protect the planet, but I saw some shocking statistics the other day. The average U.S. household uses 310 liters (82 gallons) of water per day, while the average is 349 liters (92 gallons) in the UK and 144 liters (38 gallons) in Europe.

That got me thinking about how essential water is in our daily lives, from drinking water and hygiene to watering our lawns and gardens to the many other uses around us — agriculture, industry, health care — and how we must do our part to better safeguard it. I turned to our NSF experts for a few simple changes we can all make at home to help save water. The bonus: These practices can also cut our water bills. Consider these water-saving steps in the kitchen, bathroom and yard, and elsewhere around your home:

  1. 1

    Get Tapping

    Turn off the tap when you’re brushing your teeth or shaving. If you brush your teeth twice a day, seven days a week, you could save nearly 21,576 liters (5,700 gallons) gallons annually.

  2. 2

    Scrub It Up

    Instead of running your dishwasher after every meal, please wait until it’s completely full, or fill your sink and wash your dishes yourself (but don’t let the water run while you’re rinsing).

  3. 3

    Get Fruity

    When washing fruits and vegetables in the sink, catch the water in a basin instead of letting it flow down the drain. Use this to water indoor or outdoor plants.

  4. 4

    Barrel Up

    Use rain barrels to collect rainwater for watering your lawn or washing your car.

  5. 5

    Show the Loo Some Love

    Install low-flow toilets and sinks whenever possible.

  6. 6

    Spread the Word

    Become an advocate in your neighborhood or among your family, friends or social networks for the importance of protecting water quality and availability.

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Sources:

www.cdc.gov/healthywater/drinking/world-water-day.html

www.epa.gov/watersense/statistics-and-facts

www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/sites/default/files/reports/AtHomewithWater%287%29.pdf

www.eea.europa.eu/signals/signals-2018-content-list/articles/water-use-in-europe-2014#:~:text=On%20average%2C%20144%20litres%20of,supplied%20to%20households%20in%20Europe