Growing up in the Midwest, water conservation was never the main concern. Ohio seems to have an abundance of water and we never had to worry if we would run out or look into ways to save water.

Unfortunately, this is not the case for most. Not only is limited water a problem around the world but many states in America have water restrictions. Moving from Ohio to California was a much-appreciated eye-opener on how others have to live while restricting their daily water consumption.

We have realized that this water dilemma should not only be a problem for those living in the desert but should be a global project. We're all in this together after all.

However, if you are like us and didn’t grow up learning that water was scarce, you may not even know where to begin with saving water. We compiled a list of 5 general water-saving tips.

We decided to address simple acts so it can be used as a nice starting point for many people. These are easy things anyone can add to their daily routine without too much extra work for them.

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Turn Off the Faucet

Try to turn off the faucet unless you are actively using the water. This means if you are brushing your teeth, run the water when you rinse your mouth and toothbrush. While you are in the act of actually brushing your teeth, don’t run the water.

There are many times during the day when you're running the water when it does not need to be on. Washing your face, washing the dishes, washing your hands, pretty much most things that have to do with washing.

At first, it may seem to be an extra step that wastes more time than it’s worth but every little bit helps. Hopefully, at some point, it will become second nature.

You can also use the turn off the faucet trick while showering. You hop in, rinse off with the water then turn off the water while you do all the soaping up. Once nice and clean, turn the water back on to rinse off again.

We have a friend that does this and says it's very easy to do. Plus you are in the enclosed space of the bathroom so often the steam from the shower keeps the atmosphere warm enough for the soaping part. This may be more of an “advanced tip” but hey, it's something to try.

Reuse Water

There are easy ways to reuse the water you already used. Some people have what they call a “gray water tank”.

This is the dirty water used for basic cleaning that can more easily be reused. It still is dirty water so we don’t suggest reusing it for cleaning but there are other ways it can be helpful.

One of the most common uses we have found for using “grey” water is to water plants and other landscaping. The soil can do some filtering of its own which makes the greywater easy to use.

If you are going to reuse the water you cleaned with make sure to use biodegradable soaps. This will help ensure that you are not putting toxins into the ground. Go even further and buy products in glass containers that are never tested on animals.

Adjust High Water Usage Areas

Look at the places where you seem to use the most water. For most people this probably means showers.

We know some love showering every day if not several times a day. Depending on your lifestyle this may be necessary, but for the average person, daily showers are not a requirement.

Try to limit how many showers you are taking. If you have to shower often then at least try to minimize the length of your shower.

If you ever turn on the shower or sink faucet and let the water run while it’s heating up, only open the faucet halfway. This means less water will be coming out while you are waiting for it to heat up. Also, save this water in a bucket and reuse it for cleaning.

Another big culprit of increased water usage is for landscaping. We understand you love your yard and want it looking nice but a pretty yard is not always the best for water consumption.

If a pretty yard is something that means a lot to you then there are other small ways to at least decrease the amount of water needed. You can always try zero scaping, buying plants that don’t need much water to thrive, or using greywater.

Know What You Use

We aren’t saying that you have to go big with this one and know the exact amount of gallons used. Instead, we simply want you to spend a few days and take note of all the times you use water and for how long.

Being conscious of your water use is the first step in changing your water consumption.

You could always make a water journal for a week. Write down every time water is used to look at your everyday life and make adjustments accordingly.

Research

The more educated you are on a topic the easier it will be for you to make certain life adjustments. If you have a justification for the means it can give you the incentive you need. Also, you may find some more tips for water-saving that we didn't mention in this post.

Watch the documentary Watermark. It's a great documentary that talks about the impact water has on so many. It doesn't provide too much on how you can save water but instead helps bring into perspective on why water plays such a significant role in everyday life.

Saving water can be an easy way to begin an eco-friendly journey. This does not have to be an all-or-nothing kind of change.

Any step towards using less water helps. Start small and see where that goes. Hopefully, together, we can all make a difference.