When shopping for a new dishwasher, use the Consortium for Energy Efficiency website to compare water use between models.

Collect the water you use while rinsing fruit and vegetables. Use it to water house plants.

If you accidentally drop ice cubes, don’t throw them in the sink. Drop them in a house plant instead.

Select the proper pan size for cooking. Large pans may require more cooking water than necessary.

Cook food in as little water as possible. This also helps it retain more nutrients.

Reuse leftover water from cooked or steamed foods to start a nutritious soup, it’s one more way to get eight glasses of water a day.

Keep a pitcher of drinking water in the refrigerator instead of running the tap. This way, every drop goes down you and not the drain.

Install an instant water heater near your kitchen sink so you don’t have to run the water while it heats up. This also reduces energy costs.

Don’t use running water to thaw food. For water efficiency and food safety, defrost food in the refrigerator.

Wash your fruits and vegetables in a pan of water instead of running water from the tap.

Use the garbage disposal sparingly. Instead, compost vegetable food waste and save gallons every time.

Soak pots and pans instead of letting the water run while you scrape them clean.

Designate one glass for your drinking water each day, or refill a water bottle. This will cut down on the number of glasses to wash.

If your dishwasher is new, cut back on rinsing. Newer models clean more thoroughly than older ones.

Dishwashers typically use less water than washing dishes by hand. Now, Energy Star dishwashers save even more water and energy.

When washing dishes by hand, don’t let the water run. Fill one basin with wash water and the other with rinse water.

There are a number of ways to save water, and they all start with you.

When buying a washer, check the Consortium for Energy Efficiency website to compare water use between models.

Have a plumber re-route your greywater to trees and plants rather than the sewer line. Check with your city and county for codes.

When shopping for a new washing machine, compare resource savings among Energy Star models. Some can save up to 20 gallons of water per load.

Washing dark clothes in cold water saves water and energy, and helps your clothes retain their color.

When doing laundry, match the water level to the size of the load.

While you wait for hot water, collect the running water and use it to water plants.

One drip every second adds up to five gallons per day! Check your faucets and showerheads for leaks.

Look for WaterSense® labeled toilets, sink faucets, urinals and showerheads.

Drop tissues in the trash instead of flushing them and save water every time.

Install water-saving aerators on all of your faucets.

Take 5-minute showers instead of baths. A full bathtub requires up to 70 gallons of water.

When washing your hands, turn the water off while you lather.

Turn off the water while washing your hair and save up to 150 gallons a month.

Plug the sink instead of running the water to rinse your razor and save up to 300 gallons a month.

Consider buying a dual-flush toilet. It has two flush options: a half-flush for liquid waste and a full-flush for solid waste.

If your toilet was installed before 1992, purchasing a WaterSense® labeled toilet can reduce the amount of water used for each flush.

Turn off the water while you brush your teeth and save up to 4 gallons a minute. That’s up to 200 gallons a week for a family of four.

Use a WaterSense® labeled showerhead. They’re inexpensive, easy to install, and can save you up to 750 gallons a month.

If your toilet flapper doesn’t close properly after flushing, replace it.

When running a bath, plug the bathtub before turning on the water. Adjust the temperature as the tub fills.

Put food coloring in your toilet tank. If it seeps into the bowl without flushing, there’s a leak. Fix it and start saving gallons.

Toilet leaks can be silent! Be sure to test your toilet for leaks at least once a year.

Time your shower to keep it under 5 minutes. You’ll save up to 1,000 gallons per month.

Shorten your shower by a minute or two and you’ll save up to 150 gallons per month.

If your shower fills a one-gallon bucket in less than 20 seconds, replace the showerhead with a WaterSense® labeled model.

See how your water use stacks up to others by calculating your daily water use.

Run your washer and dishwasher only when they are full. You can save up to 1,000 gallons a month.

Make suggestions to your employer or school about ways to save water and money.

At home or while staying in a hotel, reuse your towels.

See a leak you can’t fix? Tell a parent, teacher, employer, or property manager, or call a handyman.

We’re more likely to notice leaky faucets indoors, but don’t forget to check outdoor faucets, pipes, and hoses.

Be a leak detective ! Check all hoses, connectors, and faucets regularly for leaks.

Hire a GreenPlumber® to help reduce your water, energy, and chemical use.

Grab a wrench and fix that leaky faucet. It’s simple, inexpensive, and you can save 140 gallons a week.

Reward kids for the water-saving tips they follow.

Learn how to use your water meter to check for leaks.

Monitor your water bill for unusually high use. Your bill and water meter are tools that can help you discover leaks.

Play fun games while learning how to save water!

Encourage your school system and local government to develop and promote water conservation among children and adults.

When the kids want to cool off, use the sprinkler in an area where your lawn needs it most.

Watch the Home Water Challenge video or use the Home Water Audit Calculator to see where you can save water.

Teach children to turn off faucets tightly after each use.

For automatic water savings, direct water from rain gutters and HVAC systems to water-loving plants in your landscape.

Collect water from your roof by installing gutters and downspouts. Direct the runoff to plants and trees.

Call your local conservation office for more information about xeriscaping with water-thrifty trees, plants, and ground covers.

Next time you add or replace a flower or shrub, choose a low-water-use plant and save up to 550 gallons each year.

Visit your local xeriscape garden to view plants that thrive in our hot desert environment.

Use 2 to 4 inches of organic mulch around plants to reduce evaporation and save hundreds of gallons of water a year.

Spreading a layer of organic mulch around plants helps them retain moisture, saving water, time and money.

Use a layer of organic mulch on the surface of your planting beds to minimize weed growth that competes for water.

Start a compost pile. Using compost in your garden or flower beds adds water-holding organic matter to the soil.

Leave lower branches on trees and shrubs and allow leaf litter to accumulate on the soil. This keeps the soil cooler and reduces evaporation.

Avoid planting grass in areas that are hard to water, such as steep inclines and isolated strips along sidewalks and driveways.

Consider attending a landscape class hosted by a water provider. Most workshops occur in the spring and fall.

When sprucing up your front or backyard, consider xeriscaping. This landscape method uses low-water-use plants to limit your water use.

Plant in the spring and fall, when the watering requirements are lower.

Reduce the amount of lawn in your yard by planting shrubs and ground covers appropriate to your site and region.

Choose the right Arizona-friendly plants and watch them thrive in our desert environment.

Group plants with the same watering needs together to avoid overwatering some while underwatering others.

Use porous material for walkways and patios to prevent wasteful runoff and keep water in your yard.

Catch water in an empty tuna can to measure sprinkler output. 3/4 to 1 inch of water is enough to apply each time you irrigate.

Water your summer lawns once every three days and your winter lawn once every five days.

While fertilizers promote plant growth, they also increase water consumption. Apply the minimum amount of fertilizer needed.

Remember to weed your lawn and garden regularly. Weeds compete with other plants for nutrients, light and water.

Avoid overseeding your lawn with winter grass. Ryegrass needs water every few days, whereas Dormant Bermuda grass needs water monthly.

Let your lawn go dormant (brown) during the winter. Dormant grass only needs to be watered every three to four weeks, less if it rains.

If walking across the lawn leaves footprints (blades don’t spring back up), then it is time to water.

Aerate your lawn periodically. Holes every six inches will allow water to reach the roots, rather than run off the surface.

If installing a lawn , select a lawn mix or blend that matches your climate and site conditions.

Leave lawn clippings on your grass, this cools the ground and holds in moisture.

Adjust your lawn mower to the height of 1.5 to 2 inches. Taller grass shades roots and holds soil moisture better than short grass.

Hire a Smartscape Certified professional landscaper who has received landscape training specific to the Sonoran Desert.

Hire a qualified pro to install your irrigation system and keep it working properly and efficiently.

Pruning properly can help your plants use water more efficiently.

Spring is a great time to give your irrigation system a checkup to ensure it’s working efficiently.

Remember to periodically check your sprinkler system valves for leaks, and to keep sprinkler heads in good shape.

For hanging baskets, planters and pots, put ice cubes on top of the soil to give your plants a cool drink of water without overflow.

Use a rain barrel to harvest rainwater from gutters for watering gardens and landscapes.

Use sprinklers that deliver big drops of water close to the ground. Smaller drops and mist often evaporate before hitting the ground.

Water your plants deeply but less frequently to encourage deep root growth and drought tolerance.

Use drip irrigation for shrubs and trees to apply water directly to the roots, where it’s needed.

Don’t water your lawn on windy days when most of the water blows away or evaporates.

Water dry spot by hand instead of running the whole irrigation system longer.

Install a rain sensor on your irrigation controller so your system won’t run when it’s raining.

Adjust your watering schedule each month to match seasonal weather conditions and landscape requirements.

Signs of overwatering: Leaves turn lighter shades of green or yellow, young shoots wilt, and sometimes algae or fungi grow.

Water only when necessary. More plants die from over-watering than from under-watering.

If water runs off your lawn easily, split your watering time into shorter periods to allow for better absorption.

Apply water only as fast as the soil can absorb it.

Learn how to shut off your automatic watering system in case of malfunctions or rain.

Timing is everything when it comes to irrigation. Learn how to set your controller properly.

Minimize evaporation by watering during the early morning hours when temperatures are cooler and winds are lighter.

Check your sprinkler system frequently and adjust sprinklers so only your lawn is watered and not the house, sidewalk or street.

Set a kitchen timer when using the hose as a reminder to turn it off. A running hose can discharge up to 10 gallons per minute.

Use a trowel, shovel, or soil probe to examine soil moisture depth. If the top two to three inches of soil are dry, it’s time to water.

Read the Landscape Watering by the Numbers guidebook to help you determine how long and how much to water.

Use a grease pencil to conduct a bucket test to check for pool leaks. An unnatural water level drop may indicate a leak .

Trickling or cascading fountains lose less water to evaporation than those that spray water into the air.

Keep water in the pool when playing, it will save water.

Don’t overfill the pool. Lower water levels will reduce water loss due to splashing.

Minimize or eliminate the use of waterfalls and sprays in your pool. Aeration increases evaporation.

When back-washing your pool, consider using the water on salt-tolerant plants in the landscape.

If you have an automatic refilling device, check your pool periodically for leaks .

Make sure your swimming pools, fountains and ponds are equipped with recirculating pumps.

Use a pool cover to help keep your pool clean, reduce chemical use and prevent water loss through evaporation.

Install a thermostat and timer on your evaporative cooler so it only operates when necessary.

Know where your master water shut-off valve is located. Were a pipe to burst, this could save gallons of water and prevent damage.

Report broken pipes, leaky hydrants and errant sprinklers to property owners or your local water provider .

If you have an evaporative cooler, install a recirculating pump to keep water from bleeding off with one pass.

Set water softeners for a minimum number of refills to save both water and chemicals, plus energy, too.

If you have an evaporative cooler, direct the water drain to plants in your landscape.

Evaporative coolers require a seasonal maintenance check. For more efficient cooling, check your evaporative cooler annually.

Use a broom instead of a hose to clean patios, sidewalks and driveways, and save water every time.

When you give your pet fresh water, don’t throw the old water down the drain. Use it to water your trees or shrubs.

When cleaning out fish tanks, give the nutrient-rich water to your non-edible plants.

Wash your pets outdoors, in an area of your lawn that needs water.

Use a hose nozzle or turn off the water while you wash your car. You’ll save up to 100 gallons every time.

Use a commercial car wash that recycles water. Or, wash your car on the lawn, and you’ll water your grass at the same time.

For more immediate hot water and energy savings, insulate hot water pipes.

Winterize outdoor spigots when temperatures dip below freezing to prevent pipes from leaking or bursting.

#10 Install an instant water heater near your kitchen sink so you don’t have to run the water while it heats up. This also reduces energy costs.

#39 Install water-saving aerators on all of your faucets.

#41 Look for WaterSense® labeled toilets, sink faucets, urinals and showerheads.

#54 Hire a GreenPlumber® to help reduce your water, energy, and chemical use.

#143 Some commercial refrigerators and ice-makers are cooled with water. Upgrade to air-cooled appliances for significant water savings.

#144 Post a hotline in bathrooms and kitchens to report leaks or water waste to facility managers or maintenance personnel.

#145 Create a suggestion and incentives system at your organization to recognize water-saving ideas.

#146 Include a water-saving tip in your employee newsletter. Find 100+ tips at wateruseitwisely.com.

#147 Implement a water management plan for your facility, then educate employees on good water habits through newsletters and posters.

#148 Publish your organization’s monthly water use to show progress toward water-saving goals.

#149 Invite your water utility conservation staff to your organization for Earth Day and other environmental events to help promote water savings.

#150 Water audit your facility to find out your recommended water use, then monitor your utility bills to gauge your monthly consumption.

#151 Have maintenance personnel regularly check your facilities for leaks, drips and other water waste.

#152 If you use processed water in your business or facility, look into water recycling.

#153 Contact your water utility to see if rebates are available for purchasing water-efficient fixtures, equipment or for facility audits.

#154 Consider and compare water use when purchasing ice makers, dishwashers, reverse osmosis units, coolers and cleaning equipment.

#155 Become or appoint a water ambassador within your organization who creates, implements and maintains your water conservation program.

#156 Become a proud WaterSense® partner and let all your customers know.

#157 As part of the WaterSense® Fix-A-Leak Week in March, plan an employee campaign to look for leaks.

#158 Determine how your on-site water is being used by installing sub-meters where feasible, then monitoring for savings.

#159 Conduct a facility water use inventory and identify water management goals.

#160 Don’t forget hidden water use costs, like energy for pumping, heating and cooling, chemical treatment, and damage and sewer expenses.

#161 Show your company’s dedication to water conservation through a policy statement. Commit management, staff and resources to the effort.

#162 Shut off water to unused areas of your facility to eliminate waste from leaks or unmonitored use.

#163 Create a goal of how much water your company can save and plan a celebration once that goal is met.

#164 Ask employees for suggestions on saving water and give prizes for the best ideas. Incentivize it!

#165 Write feature articles on your employee website that highlight water-saving ideas and successes.

#166 Test your co-workers or employees on topics like xeriscape, WaterSense®, and high-efficiency toilets. See how water-wise they are.

#167 Hire a WaterSense® irrigation partner to help with your landscape.

#168 Saving water on your landscape adds up quickly. Send the person in charge of your landscape to an irrigation workshop.

#169 Marry the weather with your landscape water use. Water use should decrease during rainy periods and increase during hot, dry periods.

#170 Visit your local Water Conservation office’s website to get information on programs available to businesses.

#171 Make sure your contract plumber and/or maintenance personnel knows about GreenPlumbers®.

#172 Ask your company to support water conservation events and education. ProjectWet hosts local events throughout the country.

#173 Support Tap Into Quality and forgo those plastic water bottles to lower your carbon footprint.

#174 Scrape dishes rather than rinsing them before washing.

#175 Use water-conserving icemakers.

#176 A recent study showed that 99% of business managers surveyed ranked water conservation as a “top five” priority over the next decade.

#177 If your facility relies on cooling towers, have maintenance maximize cycles of concentration by providing efficient water treatment.

#178 Be sure your irrigation system is watering only the areas intended, with no water running onto walks, streets or down the gutter.

#179 While cleaning sidewalks, a hose and nozzle use 8-12 gallons of water per minute. A pressurized Waterbroom® uses closer to 3 gallons.

#180 Inspect your landscape irrigation system regularly for leaks or broken sprinkler heads and adjust pressures to specification.

#181 Give your landscape proper amounts of irrigation water. Determine water needs, water deeply but infrequently, and adjust to the season.

#182 Establish a monthly water budget for your landscape based on the water needs of your plants.

#183 Limit turf areas at your facility. Instead, landscape using xeriscape principles to cut water use in half.

#184 Put decorative fountains on timers and use only during work or daylight hours. Check for leaks if you have automatic refilling devices.

#185 Wash company vehicles at commercial car washers that recycle water.

#186 Wash company vehicles as needed rather than on a schedule. Stretch out the time in between washes.

#187 Consider turning your high-maintenance water feature/fountain into a low-maintenance art feature or planter.

#188 When buying new appliances, consider those that offer cycle and load size adjustments. They are more water and energy efficient.

#189 Support projects that use reclaimed wastewater for irrigation and industrial uses.