11 Practical Ways to Conserve Water at Home

Americans have long enjoyed reliable access to clean water for both indoor and outdoor use—a privilege that's easy to take for granted. But with severe, multi-year droughts gripping much of the western United States, water conservation has become urgent. California regulators have tightened emergency restrictions on residential water use, and Governor Jerry Brown unveiled a $1 billion drought response plan. Other states are launching their own water-saving initiatives.

While agriculture and industry consume the largest share of water, residential use is significant—and entirely within our control. The EPA reports the average family of four uses about 400 gallons daily. Switching to efficient fixtures and appliances can cut that by 30%, but behavioral changes matter just as much. Here are 11 practical ways to reduce household water consumption. Your water bills will drop, and every saved drop helps ensure our taps keep flowing.

1. Turn Off the Tap

Break the habit of letting water run needlessly while washing dishes, brushing teeth, shaving, or washing hands and face. Bathroom faucets flow at roughly 2 gallons per minute. Turning off the tap while brushing and shaving alone can save hundreds of gallons monthly.

Tip: Fix leaks promptly. A slow drip wastes up to 20 gallons daily; a leaky toilet can waste 200 gallons a day.

2. Repurpose Every Drop

Capture the potable water used to rinse fruits and vegetables in a colander and use it in the garden. Do the same while waiting for hot water to reach the tap.

3. Double-Dip Dishwashing

If you have a double sink, fill one with hot soapy water for washing and the other with cool water for rinsing—you'll use half the water of a running tap. Single sink? Use two large basins.

4. Choose an Efficient Dishwasher

Modern dishwashers use far less water than hand-washing. Scrape dishes instead of pre-rinsing to save up to 10 gallons per load. Run only full loads. For small households, consider a double-drawer model (like Fisher Paykel) where each drawer uses under 2 gallons and operates independently.

5. Upgrade to a High-Efficiency Washer

The average family runs 300 loads annually—laundry accounts for over 20% of indoor residential water use. Front-loaders generally use less water than top-loaders, but either way, look for Energy Star certification. These machines use about 40% less water by spraying clothes with high-pressure streams instead of filling the tub.

6. Install Low-Flow Fixtures

The bathroom is the biggest indoor water user—so it offers the biggest savings. Older toilets use up to 6 gallons per flush; WaterSense-certified models use just 1.28–1.6 gallons. Dual-flush toilets use even less. Showering accounts for nearly 17% of household use (40 gallons daily for a family of four). Swapping a standard 2.5-gpm showerhead for a WaterSense model (2 gpm or less) maintains performance while saving water.

7. Shorten Showers

Use a timer to keep showers to five minutes or less.

8. Cover Your Pool

A pool cover retains heat and reduces evaporation, cutting replacement water needs by 30–50% according to the Department of Energy.

9. Water by Hand

For small gardens, hand-watering with a hose uses 33% less water than automatic irrigation systems, per the EPA.

10. Upgrade Irrigation

Invest in weather-based controllers that adjust watering to real conditions. Replace old mist-style sprinklers with efficient rotator heads that shoot slow jets for better penetration and less drift. Install drip irrigation and soaker hoses for targeted watering.

11. Harvest Rainwater

Capture roof runoff in a 55-gallon drum or rain barrel for garden use. Cover barrels to prevent mosquito breeding.

Tell us: Has your household cut back on water? Share your experiences and tips in the comments.

More: Just Add Water: Rain Barrel Magic | How to Switch to a Tankless Water Heater | More water-saving guides for indoors and out