10 Easy Ways to Save and Reuse Water During a Drought

The country has been hit hard by abnormally dry conditions this season. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, about 42% of the U.S. is in a drought, affecting some 150 million people. Your local government or water-supply company may be urging (or requiring) you to use less water at home, so we’ve rounded up some clever, low-effort ways to limit water waste and repurpose the H2O you’ve already used. Even after the drought ends, you can continue following these simple strategies to reduce your consumption and lower your utility bill!

Take Shorter Showers—and Collect Some Running Water in a Bucket

The average American uses 80 to 100 gallons of water a day, according to the U.S. Geological Survey, and showers and baths are two of the biggest culprits. Avoid baths, since they usually use more water, and limit yourself to five-minute showers. Turn off the water while you lather up and shave (and remember that you don’t have to wash your hair every day).

Also, place a bucket or a big pot on the shower floor to collect water as it heats up, then use it to water plants, flush the toilet, or clean the house or your car.

Don’t Flush the Toilet So Much

Flushing accounts for almost 30% of indoor water use, the Environmental Protection Agency reports. So try to follow the old adage “If it’s yellow, let it mellow.” If you’re just not into that, you can use collected water from the shower (or other saved water) to flush. Quickly dump about 1.5 gallons into the bowl to generate an automatic flush.

Check Your Toilet for Leaks

Undetected toilet leaks can waste hundreds of gallons a day. An easy way to check your toilet: Put a few drops of food coloring in the tank and wait 10 minutes. If the dye shows up in the bowl, you’ve got a leak. You’ll likely be able to fix it inexpensively by installing a new toilet flapper.

Turn Off the Faucet While Brushing Your Teeth and Washing Your Hands

There’s absolutely no need to keep the sink running. Turn off the faucet every time you scrub your hands to save at least 7 gallons a day. Do the same while brushing your teeth and you’ll save another 8 gallons a day.

Reuse Your Dehumidifer Water

If you let your dehumidifer drain into a bucket, you can use the collected H2O to water plants, clean the house and car, and flush the toilet. Just don’t drink it, because it can contain mold spores and other nasties.

Opt for the Dishwasher Over Hand-Washing

Not everybody has a dishwasher, but for those of you who do—take advantage of it. An energy-efficient one will use as little as three gallons of water, compared with the almost 30 gallons (!) you could use to hand-wash dishes. Definitely skip the prerinse: Just scrape off any chunks of food into the trash and put the dishes right in. Wait until it’s full to run it.

If you have to hand-wash a load, fill the sink with warm, soapy water, rather than letting the faucet run. Let stuff soak, and then give them a quick rinse.

Don’t Rinse Produce Under Running Water

Instead, put fruit and most vegetables (except greens, or anything gritty) in a bowl of water and scrub them with a veggie brush. Then reuse this water for your plants!

Do Less Laundry

To save the most water, wait until you have a full load before you run the washing machine. Many items can be reworn before they need to be tossed into the hamper, so you can probably go a while without trekking to the laundry room. When you do, use cold water whenever possible (which is most of the time).

Skip the Hose Outside

Use a broom to clean your deck, steps, and pathways.

Rethink Your Landscaping

While you’re outside, consider filling your garden and lawn with native plants next spring. They are adapted to your local climate and require much less water than grass and plants from outside your eco-region. Many are drought tolerant too, so you won’t have to worry about them next time a drought hits.