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by flushing small trash, tissues, and cigarette butts down it.

* Replace old toilets with high-efficiency toilets. A six-liter toilet versus the older 18-liter toilet can actually cut household water usage by 30 percent.

* If you cannot replace an older toilet, check for leaks. To check for a leak add five drops of food coloring to the water in the tank. Do not flush it for two hours and then check the water in the toilet basin. If there is color, then there is a leak. Most leaks can be fixed for minimal cost and effort.

* Take showers instead of baths and keep your shower time under five minutes. Ladies, turn off the water when soaping and shaving your legs to reduce water consumption.

* Consider purchasing a water-saving showerhead like the Shower Start. This eco-friendly device will automatically pause a running shower as soon as the water is warm. The Shower Start retails for about $40 to $50 and is available online and in home improvement stores. Reducing our consumption of hot water can actually help lower greenhouse gas emissions.

General Household

* Avoid using the large jug style water systems for dogs and cats. Some of the jug dispensers hold at least a gallon of water. Filling the jug each day, sometimes twice a day, and dumping the unused water down the drain is wasteful. Recycle the water into another container and use it to water plants and gardens or save the giant jugs for times when you will be away from home for an extended period. Offer dogs and cats fresh water in bowls appropriately sized for their needs. Keep an eye on the bowl and when the water level gets low, add fresh. This is a great way to conserve and make your pets happy at the same time.

* Use energy-efficient front-loading washers to save gallons of water with each laundry load. Wait to run the washer until you have a full load of laundry.

Hundreds of gallons of water from outdoor home chores can be saved every year with a few easy conservation tips.

* Never hose a walkway or driveway, always sweep it to save 50 gallons of water for every five minutes of washing.

* Re-think car washing. Limit car washing to once a month or as needed and never leave the hose running during soaping. You can save 150 gallons of water by only running the hose during rinsing.

* Limit grass, garden, and flower watering. If you have new trees or sod, purchase a reliable timer and follow the watering instructions. A root-watering device allows for more efficient watering of newly planted trees saving water and promoting tree health.

* Never water when it is windy or during the heat of the day. Save watering for early morning and evening.

* Mulch will help plants, shrubs, and trees maintain moisture and reduce the amount of watering needed. Planting drought-resistant flowers will do the same.

* Install a rain barrel or rain-catching container and recycle your rainwater for watering flowers, gardens, trees, and shrubs. The barrels and containers are available in several shapes, sizes, and styles and retail between $150 and $200.

Once you take the plunge into saving water at home, conservation will become habit-forming, especially when you see a dramatic reduction in your monthly water bills. If we all concentrate on saving water in our homes, we will not only save money but we can make a positive impact on the environment by reducing our carbon footprint.

Learn more about this author, Barb Hopkins.
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