The first step in water conservation is understanding how much water you use.  Visit the National Wildlife Federation’s automated Water Calculator to figure out how much water your household goes through every day.  You'll see your water use next to the average water use in your area.  Then you'll learn how much water you’d save by cutting down in certain areas.

Americans tend to take plentiful, clean water for granted.  This exercise can help you think about water as a precious and limited resource that brings life and hygiene, and fights child mortality.

Household Water Use
How much water do you use?  The average American goes through about 150 gallons every day -- most of it to take showers and flush the toilet.  Outside the US, the average person uses only about a third of that figure; in Africa the average person uses less than a tenth.  Here are some of the top ways that people use water at home.

1. Showers use 4 gallons of water per minute.
   
2. Baths use 40 gallons of water.
   
3. Toilets take 5 gallons to flush.
   
4. Faucets -- whether you're washing your hands, doing the dishes, or watering the lawn -- run at 3 gallons per minute.
   
5. Laundry consumes 55 gallons per load.
   
6. Dishwashers use 15 gallons per load.

Conserve Water
A single dripping faucet can waste up to 2,700 gallons of water in a year -- which will cost you about $675.  Most of the time, you can fix a leaky faucet yourself by replacing the washer.  You can read more water saving tips (scroll down to that heading) on this Worldwise page.

Once you know how much water your household is using, start reading your water meter.  Try to cut down your water use by following the tips you've learned.  See if your calculated water use and your water readings match up.  If they don't, you may have a leak.

Every gallon saved reduces the demand for water in your community and develops a lifestyle of conservation of water that will be helpful in times of low rainfall or drought.  So wait until the dishwasher is full before you run it; cut your shower time by a few minutes; and don't run the water while you brush your teeth.  Pursue a deeper understanding of water's scarcity across the world... but not at the expense of hygiene!

If you cut down on your water use, and your water waste, you'll be giving the planet and its poorest inhabitants a break.

** You can also check out our page on How to Start a Recycling Program.