25+ Ways to Cut Back on Your Household Water Use

Estimates vary, but on average, an American uses 80–100 gallons of water per day. That’s about 29,200–36,500 gallons a year. Much of this use comes from toilets, showers, faucets, and washing machines, as well as leaks.

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Reducing household water use is something all of us can do, especially when many parts of the world are experiencing drought.

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Excess water use can worsen drought conditions by draining local waterways and depriving crops and aquatic life of the water they need to survive.

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Here are some steps you can take to save water at home:

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Save Water Indoors

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Showering & Bathing

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• Shorten showers: Each minute under the shower can send ~2.6 gallons down the drain (varies by showerhead).
• Turn water off while soaping/shampooing: Pause the flow until you’re ready to rinse. Also, don’t let the water run while brushing teeth or lathering hands.
• Collect water while the tap warms up: Use a bucket and give it back to the Earth in your garden or any patch of dirt around your house.

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Toilets

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• Use the short/half flush (if available) to cut water used per flush.
• Upgrade your toilet: Older models can use up to ~2.6 gallons per flush.

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Leaks & Maintenance

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• Check for household leaks regularly: Small leaks can add up to gallons wasted every day.
• Use leak detection tools: Flow monitoring/leak detection devices can identify leaks or unusual water use. WaterSense’s leak detection guide covers device options and maintenance tips.
• Schedule an annual check: Inspect plumbing fixtures and irrigation systems (e.g., during Fix a Leak Week).

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Kitchen

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• Run the dishwasher only when full: Dishwashers often use less water than handwashing. Also, consider ENERGY STAR dishwashers when replacing.
• If handwashing, use a basin: Plug the sink or use a wash basin instead of running the tap.
• Skip pre-rinsing: Scrape plates instead of rinsing before loading. Modern dishwashers actually clean better when dishes are not pre-rinsed.
• Keep drinking water chilled: Store a pitcher in the fridge instead of running the tap until it’s cold.
• Reuse rinse water: Collect water from washing vegetables in a bowl and use it for indoor/outdoor plants.
• Thaw food in the fridge: Avoid thawing under running water.

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Laundry

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• Wash full loads: Match water level/load size settings to the actual load.
• Use cold water: Saves energy (and money) compared with hot/warm cycles.
• Upgrade efficiently: Consider ENERGY STAR clothes washers, which use ~30% less water than standard models.

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Save Water Outdoors

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Outdoor water use is significant. ~30% of household water use (~9B of 29B gallons/day in the US) goes outdoors. In summer/dry climates, outdoor water use can reach ~70%.

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Gardening & Landscaping

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• Collect rainwater: Install a rain barrel/water butt to capture roof runoff for garden use.
• Water smarter, not longer: Use watering cans rather than leaving sprinklers on. Water early in the morning so plants can soak up more of the water before it evaporates in peak sunny hours.
• Design a water-smart yard: Use landscaping tips to reduce watering needs.
• Maintain irrigation systems: Do a regular Sprinkler Spruce-Up through 4 simple steps: inspect, connect, direct, and select
• Use efficient controllers: Consider WaterSense labeled controllers.
• Hire certified pros: Find certified irrigation professionals for install/audits.
• Sweep instead of hosing down driveways, sidewalks, and steps.

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Car Washing

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• Use a bucket, not a hose: A bucket (~8 gallons) is far less than a hose (~4 gallons/minute).
• Wash less during drought: Skip non-essential washing when conditions are dry.
• Consider commercial car washes: Look for the ones that recycle water.

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Pools & Recreation

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• Reuse pool water when possible: Use pumps/filters to recycle water rather than refilling.
• Cover pools: Pool covers reduce evaporation when not in use. Also, check out this Pool Water Efficiency guide.

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