• You may have noticed that your last water bill was exceptionally high. Or, you may have received a notice in the mail from your local utility company urging you and members of your community to save water, amid a drought that may be occurring in your area or because of general energy concerns. In any case, there are a few things you can do to conserve the H2O.
  
  

Stop the Drip

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  Check your faucets for leaks. Your faucets may be screwed on too loosely. According to Mark W. LeChevallier, director of Innovation & Environmental Stewardship for American Water, every household in the United States every year wastes up to 11,000 gallons of water, which is enough to fill a swimming pool, simply because of leaks.
  
  

Choose Drier Plants

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  Maintain plants that do not require that much water to survive. Plants that tolerate droughts easier include Cactus plants, Lucky Bamboo, Jade plants and some lilies. Make sure to give them proper drainage if they are in a container, rather than planted in the ground.
  
  

Do Not Over-water Your Plants

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  Do some research on the plants you have and see if you may be giving them too much water too often. Positioning and growing plants in the right light conditions, containers and temperature is just as important as the amount of water given to them. Giving plants too much water is just as bad as not giving them enough.
  
  

Water Your Plants When It's Cooler

• Give your plants water when the temperature is the coldest. Watering them during the day when the sun is out and the temperature is the hottest could increase evaporation and make your watering less efficient.
  
  

Install an Automated Watering System for Plants

• Install a pipe system that will water your plants automatically and run on a timer. This way, you can make sure water is allocated by each plant's need to reduce the possibility of over-watering. Note that this may be pricey and difficult to install by yourself, so shop around for the best options and seek advice from a professional.
  
  

Save Accumulated Sink Water

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  Save water that has accumulated inside a glass or bowl inside your sink and use it to water your plants. This is especially useful if you have houseplants. Make sure the water does not contain any soaps or chemicals.
  
  

Stick to Full Loads

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  Wash full loads of your laundry and dishes. Every washing cycle in a washing machine and dishwasher uses a lot of water. Make sure not to overload the machines.
  
  

Stand, Don't Soak

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  Take showers rather than baths. Filling up a tub will use more gallons of water than standing under a shower spray for a few minutes.
  
  

Take Shorter Showers

• Shower for purpose rather than for leisure. Your goal is to clean your body and perhaps your hair. You may also opt to groom yourself or shower just to cool off. While standing under a hot shower spray for an hour might sound wonderful, you'll likely regret doing so when you see your water bill. Consider buying a shower timer.
  
  

Don't Wash Your Car at Home

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  Wash your car at a car wash rather than with a hose in your driveway. Car washes are typically readily available and can even be found in many shopping mall or office building car parks. You may be also be able to obtain a free car wash whenever you take your vehicle to a garage to be fixed or serviced.