1. Install a Better Toilet ---  A 1999 study found that toilets use almost 27% of all water used per person in America.  If your bathroom was installed before 1992, then you probably don’t have one of the newer, more efficient 1.6 gallon per flush toilets. You can check the date inside your toilet by lifting the tank lid and looking for the manufacturer's mark.  This would be a very worthwhile switch.
 

2. Replace Your Clothes Washer --- This appliance uses almost 22% of all water used per person.  Look for  Energy Star washers that also have a Water Factor at or lower than 9.5.   This will use 35-50% less water and 50% less energy per load, which will save you money on water and energy bills.  3. Install Low-Flow Shower Heads --- The typical American uses almost 17% of his or her daily water supply for showers, but this can be trimmed through the use of modern low-flow shower heads and speedier showers.  For each minute that you shorten your shower you can save several gallons of water.   Consider taking “Navy Showers,” where you drench yourself to start, turn off the water, suds up all over, then turn on the water just to rinse off.  (Short showers also save energy, by reducing hot water use.)  A brief shower uses much less water than a normal tub bath, so the tub should be avoided whenever possible.

4. Stop the Leaks --- Studies show that nearly 14% of a typical American’s water use is due to leaks in faucets, toilets, irrigation systems and faulty fittings.  Every person should inventory their water systems to repair these leaks.

5. Grow Appropriate Plants --- Choose hardy plants and grasses to grow around your home and business.  Many beautiful plant varieties are tolerant of hot, dry periods during the summer, with no watering requirements at all, and can be used for “xeriscaping,” or water-conserving landscaping. Extra insurance can be provided with a thick mulch over the roots of trees, shrubs and tender plants, to insulate against heat and retain moisture during dry spells.   Natural landscaping with native plants will often eliminate any need for watering.  In our region, grassy lawns generally don’t need watering.  The lawn may undergo a brief dormant period during late July and August, turning a dry brown, but it will recover with the cool moisture of September. 

• Wild Ones --- An organization promoting landscaping with native plants.

http://www.for-wild.org/
 
• Xeriscaping for Northern Gardens 

http://www.northerngardening.com/xeriscaping.htm
 
• Xeriscape Plant Selections and Ideas 

http://www.ext.nodak.edu/extpubs/plantsci/landscap/h957w.htm

• Xeriscaping: Garden Flowers 

http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/garden/07231.pdf
 
• Xeriscaping: Creative Landscaping

http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/garden/07228.pdf

• Conserving Water in the Vegetable Garden

http://wwwagcomm.ads.orst.edu/AgComWebFile/EdMat/EM8375.pdf
 
• Water Conserving Landscaping

http://www.city.toronto.on.ca/compost/xeriscap.htm

7. Faucets --- Studies show that a typical American uses almost 16% of his or her daily water from the faucet.  By installing low-flow faucet aerators on all your household faucets, you can reduce faucet water consumption by approximately 13%.  Additional savings can gained by not running the faucet continuously while washing dishes or brushing your teeth.  You can also make this water do double-duty by keeping a container in the sink and using the wastewater for watering plants inside and outside the house.

8. Skip the Hot Tub, Bidet and Private Swimming Pool --- A Jacuzzi or Hot Tub is a terrible waste of water and energy, and should be avoided at all times.   The Bidet toilet also uses unnecessary extra water.   Private swimming pools are extremely wasteful, especially when little used.  While a few people may be able to afford these luxury items, they shouldn’t feel proud to be using them.

9. Limit Your Family Size --- Each person requires water to live.  Our human population is rapidly rising to levels which make it increasingly difficult to provide adequate water while sustaining a healthy environment.  If each couple limited themselves to no more than 2 children, our world’s population could stabilize and support everyone without conflict or suffering.

10. Help Educate Young People --- Several schools and agencies in Wisconsin have developed educational  guides and assisted programs for those who would like to organize children’s activities around water protection and conservation.

Educating Young People About Water (UW-Extension)

http://www.uwex.edu/erc/eypaw/
 

Give Water A Hand (UW-Extension)

http://www.uwex.edu/erc/gwah/
 

Project Wet Wisconsin

http://www.uwsp.edu/cnr/uwexlakes/wet/
 

Water Action Volunteers

http://clean-water.uwex.edu/wav/index.html

12. Support Your Local Environmentalists --- Big water users will not easily accept new government regulations to conserve water.   Politicians will be pressured to look the other way.   That’s where environmental organizations are needed to speak up and demand improvements, to counteract the naysayers.   Please support Clean Water Action Council, so we have basic resources for this work.

Other Water Conservation Sections:

• The Need for Water Conservation

Water Wiser --- from the American Water Works Association http://www.awwa.org/waterwiser/