by Rachel Brougham

Created on: September 11, 2008   Last Updated: September 17, 2008

Each day, the typical American household uses around 260 gallons of water! That translates to nearly 95,000 gallons a year. While most of that water is waisted down the drain, there are some simple things you can do to help preserve water each time you step in the shower. Not only will you save water and help preserve the environment, you'll also save money. Here are some simple tips to help get your started.

1. Make a trip to the hardware store and ask bout a low-flow shower head These shower heads limit the flow from the shower to less than three gallons a minute. Most people don't even notice the change.

2. Take a shower instead of a bath. Despite what many people may think, showers, especially when using low-flow shower heads, use substantially less water than filling a bathtub.

3. If you must take a bath, be sure not to fill the water all the way to the top of the tub. This wastes water. Try sitting in the tub as the water fills, and only let it rise an inch or two above your skin.

4. Take a shorter shower. You can achieve this a few ways. You can set a timer and when the timer goes off, the water goes off. Or, you can turn the water off while washing with soap, and then turn the water back on to rinse.

5.Turn your heat water heater down a couple degrees. This will help save the energy used to heat the water while keeping the water warm enough for bathing.

Here's how to tell if you need a low-flow shower head First, set a 2qt. Saucepan on the floor of the shower, and position it in the middle of the shower stream. Turn the shower on and count how many seconds it takes to fill the pan. If it takes fewer than 12 seconds, you could use a low-flow shower head A low-flow shower head will only fill the pan about 2.5 grams per minute or less.

If you do decide to invest in a low-flow shower head, you don't have to shell out a fortune. Most low-flow shower heads cost $10 or less, and they'll save you hundreds of dollars in the long run. Because low-flow heads deliver less water, there is a chance to scald if your toilet is flushed during use. However, scalding shouldn't occur in newer or updated homes where newer pipes have been installed.

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