Saving water at home

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Where to start:

In order of water savings starting with the most bang for the buck, according to the Rocky Mountain Institute:

• Replace water-wasting fixtures with state-of-the-art products, starting with your showerhead.
• Fix a toilet that leaks water from the tank into the bowl, or replace an old toilet with a new "low-flow" model.
• Fix a leaky faucet, replace an inefficient one with a newer model, or add an aerator.
• If you're in the market for a new washing machine, choose one that spins on a vertical axis. (It's probably not cost-effective to replace your conventional machine if it still has a few years left in it.)
• Water your lawn in the morning or evening to reduce water lost to evaporation. Water in pulses of 10-20 minutes with 15 or more minutes in between, allowing the water to soak in properly.
• Redesign your landscape with drought-resistant plants.
  

More about: Saving water at home

For most households, the vast majority of water is used indoors. You can get the biggest water savings in your home by installing efficient fixtures and fixing leaks.

But there are other ways too. Water and electricity are linked; the water-supply sector uses large amounts of energy to transport, treat, and deliver water. On the flip side, vast quantities of water are required to generate power. Use less power and you'll save water, and vice versa. 

Food for additional thought: Meat is far more water-intensive to deliver to the table than vegetables. Skip meat once a week at your home, and the water savings upstream is significant.

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