50 Easy Ways How to Save Water at Home

Water is a precious commodity, without which we could not do most things in life, including survive. It is therefore really important that we conserve water wherever and however we can.

Saving water is really not that difficult; all it takes is a bit on innovation and care and you can save thousands of litres of water per year. An added bonus is that by conserving water you will also be saving on your annual water bill.

50 Easy Ways How to Save Water at Home

In order to make it easy as pie for you to conserve water at home, her are 50 easy ways how to:

Adjust your lawn mower to a higher setting; longer grass shades root systems and holds soil moisture better.
Adjust your sprinklers so you only water your lawn and not the house, pavement, or street.
Check both indoor and outdoor taps, pipes, and hoses for leaks.
Check your pool for leaks periodically if you have an automatic refilling device.
Check your sprinkler system valves periodically for leaks.
Check your water metre and account to track your water usage.
Cleaning your driveway or pavement with a broom instead of a hose will save 320 litres of water every time.
Collect the water you use for rinsing food and reuse it to water houseplants.
Compost as much as possible instead of utilising the garbage disposal.
Defrost food in the refrigerator and not under running water for water efficiency and food safety.
Direct your downspouts to water your shrubs and trees, or collect to water your garden.
Don’t water your lawn on windy days.
Fertilisers increase water consumption; use the minimum required.
Find out where your master water shut-off valve is in case of an emergency or pipe-burst.
Fix any leaky taps; this can save up to 560 litres of water per week.
Fixing a leaking toilet bowl can save more than 28 000 litres of water per year.
For more efficient cooling, check your evaporative cooler once a year at least.
Grouping plants with the same watering-needs together will allow you to get the most out of your watering time.
Install a rain shut-off device on your automatic sprinklers to eliminate unnecessary watering.
Install an inexpensive, easy to install low-flow showerhead.
Install low-volume toilets.
Install only modern water and energy-efficient appliances; a new washing machine can save up to 80 litres of water per load.
Install trickling or cascading fountains instead of those that spray water into the air.
Invest in a water cooler for chilled, fresh drinking water 24/7.
Keep a jug of water in the refrigerator instead of running the tap until the water is cool enough to drink.
Keeping your shower to less than 5 minutes can save up to 4000 litres of water per month.
Only do full loads of laundry.
Only water your lawn when needed; an easy way to tell if it is time to water is to walk across your lawn – if you leave footprints it is time to water.
Place organic mulch around your plants to reduce evaporation and save hundreds of litres of water annually.
Plant during the spring, where possible, when watering requirements are lower.
Plant shrubs and groundcovers instead of turf in areas like steep slopes and isolated strips
Plant shrubs and use ground-cover where possible instead of lawn.
Put a cover over your swimming pool and check for leaks around the pump.
Put the plug in the bath before turning the water on; adjust the temperature as it fills up.
Reduce any runoff that can be harmful to local waterways; redirect fast flowing water to a mulched shrub bed at the bottom of your garden.
Running your dishwasher only when it is full can save 1600 litres per month.
Soak your pots and pans instead of scraping them clean under running water.
Teach your children to turn the taps off tightly after use.
Use a soaker hose when watering grass on a steep slope to prevent runoff.
Use a sprinkler only for large lawns and make sure the heads are directed into the garden, not pathways.
Use a water-efficient drip irrigation system for shrubs, trees, and flowers and watering at the roots.
Use drained fish tank water to water your plants; it is rich in nitrogen and phosphorus, and saves water.
Use only one glass for your drinking water every day to cut down on the amount of dishes to be washed.
Using porous materials for pathways and terraces will keep the water in your yard and prevent wasteful runoff.
Water for shorter periods at a time; this will reduce runoff and allow for better absorption.
Water small patches of garden by hand to avoid waste.
Water your garden during the early morning hours to minimise evaporation.
Water your plants deeply but less frequently to create healthier and stronger landscapes.
Weed your lawn and garden regularly to stop weeds competing with other plants for water.
When washing dishes, don’t let the water run while rinsing.