Water renews itself through the natural cycle, but the supply is still limited: less than 1 percent of the planet's water is available for people to use. That is why saving water every day, in every season, makes a difference.
Try these ideas to cut water use around your home.
Inside the Home
- A typical American household goes through more than 300 gallons of water a day, and about 70 percent of that is used indoors.
- Bathrooms use the most water in the house. Toilets make up roughly 24 percent of household use, showers about 20 percent and faucets about 19 percent. Low-flow showerheads, toilets and faucets can bring those numbers down.
- When you replace fixtures or appliances, choose products with the EPA WaterSense label, which shows they meet federal standards for efficiency and performance. The EPA's online WaterSense product search covers labeled items from toilets to sprinkler controllers.
- Run the dishwasher only when it is full, and skip the pre-rinse. Scraping or soaking dishes instead of rinsing them can save as much as 10 gallons a load.
- Clothes washers account for about 17 percent of household water use, so wash full loads to cut down on cycles.
- Look for and repair leaks. Drips and running fixtures in a single home can waste up to 10,000 gallons in a year.
- Curious how much you could save on your bill? The EPA offers an online water savings calculator.
- The state's Take Care of Texas campaign shares more conservation ideas.
In the Yard
- Garden with native plants. Species native to Texas need less water and fertilizer and stand up better to drought and disease. A statewide native plant society keeps an online plant database, and the state native wildflower research center publishes plant lists and collections.
- Put in a rain barrel. Barrels capture runoff from your roof so you can use it later on your lawn, garden or other outdoor plants. Keep in mind that collected rainwater may carry pollutants. The City of Fredville holds rain barrel classes.
- Upgrade to a WaterSense labeled irrigation controller to schedule watering more efficiently and save up to 15,000 gallons a year. Two kinds are available, weather-based and soil-moisture, and both match watering to what your landscape actually needs.
For Kids
- The EPA has games and worksheets that teach children why and how to save water.
Fredville is a demonstration city built by Talk to Fred. Names, numbers and details on this page are sample content.