Saving Water Indoors

Saving water indoors is all about changing your habits, finding and quickly fixing leaks, and upgrading to water-efficient appliances. Find recommendations by room below.

Kitchen

  • When washing dishes by hand, fill one sink with soapy water and the other with rinse water.
  • Run the dishwasher only when it is full. This can save about 1,000 gallons a month.
  • Keep a pitcher of cold water in the fridge instead of running the tap.
  • Rinse fruits and vegetables in a partially filled bowl or sink instead of under running water.
  • Use the garbage disposal less often. Add fruit and vegetable scraps to a compost pile instead.
  • Save the water you use when rinsing produce or dripping faucets and use it to water houseplants.
  • Soak pots and pans instead of running water while you scrub them.
  • Do not use running water to thaw food. Defrost in the microwave or leave in the fridge overnight to thaw.
  • Use the same water glass all day to reduce how often you run the dishwasher.
  • Install an instant water heater under your sink so you do not waste water while waiting for it to heat. This could also reduce heating costs for your household.
  • New dishwashers clean well without pre-rinsing, so rinse less when possible.
  • If you drop ice cubes, put them in a plant or pet bowl instead of the sink.
  • Fix leaky faucets. A small leak can waste more than 100 gallons each week.
  • When cleaning a fish tank, use the old tank water to fertilize your plants.
  • Use pans that match the amount of food you are cooking. Larger pans require more water than may be necessary.

Bathroom

  • Place a bucket in the shower to collect warming water and use it to flush toilets or water plants.
  • Fix dripping faucets or toilets that run on their own. A leak can waste hundreds of gallons a month.
  • Turn off the water while shaving. This can save more than 100 gallons a week.
  • Turn off the faucet while washing your hands.
  • If your shower fills a one-gallon bucket in less than 20 seconds, install a water-efficient showerhead.
  • Try to keep your showers under five minutes. This can save up to 1,000 gallons a month.
  • Install low-flow toilets that use 1.6 or 1.28 gallons per flush. Older models can use as much as 5 gallons per flush.
  • Make sure your toilet flapper closes properly after each flush.
  • Add aerators to your faucets to reduce flow.
  • Teach children to turn faucets off tightly after each use.
  • Use water-efficient showerheads. They are cheap, easy to install, and can save up to 750 gallons per month.
  • Throw tissues in the trash instead of flushing them.
  • Put a few drops of food coloring in the toilet tank. If color appears in the bowl after 15 minutes without flushing, you have a leak that needs fixing. Fixing toilet leaks can save up to 1,000 gallons a month.
  • Plug the bathtub before turning on the water, then adjust the temperature as it fills up.
  • Turn off the water while you brush your teeth. This can up to 4 gallons a day. 
  • If you have an older toilet (before 1980), place a toilet dam or a filled bottle in the tank to use less water. Make sure it does not block moving parts.
  • Reuse towels at home or in hotels to save water and energy.

Laundry Room

  • When buying a new appliance, choose models with water- and energy-saving settings.
  • Match the water level to the size of the load when doing laundry.
  • Insulate hot water pipes to reduce how long you run water while waiting for it to heat.
  • Install water-softening systems only when needed and run them as few times as possible.
  • Wash clothes only when you have a full load. This can save up to 600 gallons a month.
  • Choose new high-efficiency washers that save up to 20 gallons per load.

Take the 10 Minute WaterSense Challenge and look for leaks around your home with their Detect and Chase Down Leaks checklist.

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