water: a clear, colorless, odorless, and tasteless liquid, H2O, essential for most plant and animal life and the most widely used of all solvents.(1)
conservation: The protection, preservation, management, or restoration of natural environments and the ecological communities that inhabit them. Conservation is generally held to include the management of human use of natural resources for current public benefit and sustainable social and economic utilization.(2)

1. "water." The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Houghton Mifflin Company, 2004.
2. "conservation." The American Heritage® Science Dictionary. Houghton Mifflin Company.

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Facts about

Water Conservation

What is Water Conservation?
Water Conservation is the act of preserving natural freshwater supplies through the use of technologies and behaviors that prevent their waste and contamination.

Why is Water Conservation important?
Rapid population growth over the last 15 years has put an immense strain on the available freshwater supplies in the United States. According to the EPA, "between 1950 and 2000, the U.S. population nearly doubled. However, in that same period, public demand for water more than tripled! Americans now use an average of 100 gallons of water each day - enough to fill 1,600 drinking glasses! This increased demand has put additional stress on water supplies and distribution systems, threatening both human health and the environment... A recent government survey showed at least 36 states are anticipating local, regional, or statewide water shortages by 2013."

How can I conserve water?
1. Fix leaky faucets and toilets. The EPA estimates that a leaky faucet that drips at the rate of one drip per second can waste more than 3,000 gallons of water each year and a leaky toilet can waste more than 200 gallons of water a day!
2. Take showers instead of baths. A full bath tub requires about 70 gallons of water, while taking a five-minute shower only uses 10 to 25 gallons.
3. Install aerators on your kitchen and bathroom sinks. The average faucet flows at a rate of two gallons per minute. Installing aerators can save up to 77 percent of your normal water usage without sacrificing water pressure. Also, remember to turn the water off while brushing teeth or washing dishes.
4. Use a low-flow toilet. Most toilets use about 3.5 gallons of water each flush. If you don't have the time or money to replace yours with a low-flow model, try this DIY method: place 2 bricks or a gallon jug filled with water or sand (be sure to seal the top with tape so you don't make mud) and place it down in the bottom of the toilet tank. The bricks or jug will displace about a gallon of water, meaning your toilet will use less each flush.
5. Water your lawn wisely. The EPA estimates that the typical single-family suburban household uses at least 30 percent of their water outdoors for irrigation. Some experts estimate that more than 50 percent of landscape water use goes to waste due to evaporation or runoff caused by overwatering. To stop this water waste, only water your lawn and garden in the early morning or evening, when the cooler temperatures will prevent excessive evaporation. If you can, utilize a drip irrigation system instead of the traditional hose and sprinkler.

Water Conservation Tips

Water Saving Showers
Showers account for 22 percent of individual water use in North America. Install a low flow shower head to reduce water consumption by about half, without sacrificing water pressure.

Water Savings Equals Energy Savings
By cutting in half the amount of water used per year -- through limiting water use or by installing low-flow toilets or shower heads -- a family of four will save up to 20,000 gallons of water as well as the energy needed to heat that water. Eliminating the need to heat that water then reduces greenhouse gas emissions by more than 300 pounds per year and lowers utility expenses.

Shower 5 Mintues Less
Reducing your shower time by 5 minutes will save more than 4,200 gallons of water each year and cut utility bills. Enjoy that long shower too much to give it up? Consider installing a low-flow shower head which can shave your bills and energy use up to 50%.