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World Water Day 2011: How To Save Water And Money (SUBMIT YOUR TIPS)

How To Save Water & Money (SUBMIT YOUR TIPS)
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March 22nd means it's World Water Day again! Established by the U.N., World Water Day has been observed annually since 1993 as a way to raise awareness around protecting the world's water resources.

According to WorldWaterDay.org, 27 percent of the urban population in the developing world doesn't have access to piped water at home, and poor people in developing countries pay exponentially more for their water than people in North America.

But water shortages aren't restricted to any one country or continent. As climate change continues to exacerbate environments around the world, recent droughts seen everywhere from the Amazon to the U.S. may become more frequent and more intense. If you haven't started making every effort to conserve water, this World Water Day is the best time to start.

Here are some easy tips to start saving water at home, which will likewise lower your water bill. Submit your own tips to conserve water below, or tweet your idea with the hashtag #SaveWater and we'll add it to the slideshow.

CLICK HERE to see how you can get involved with organizations that are helping to provide clean drinking water to those in need around the world.

World Water Day: How To Conserve Water
Take A Low-Flow Shower(01 of10)
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Sure, everyone knows that taking shorter showers will reduce the amount of water you use -- that's obvious. But there are other less-apparent ways you can maximize your shower experience while minimizing your water consumption.Low-flow shower heads start under $10 and can reduce your water usage by 50 to 70 percent. They are easy to install and a multitude of options are available.If you want to get even more creative, lifehacker.com has an easy-to-install DIY shower shutoff valve that will let give you a quick cut-off option while doing anything that isn't rinsing, without having to fool around with your delicately tuned temperature settings. CLICK HERE to see how. (credit:Flickr:stevendepolo)
Logical Landscaping(02 of10)
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According to the EPA, a typical single-family suburban home uses 30 percent of their waters outdoors on irrigation, and in many cases, more than 50 percent of that water is being wasted due to evaporation and runoff caused by overwatering. Drip irrigation systems use far less water than conventional sprinklers and are far more efficient. Additionally, it may be time to reconsider your landscaping, and make sure you are embracing the native climate rather than clashing with your surrounding environment. While using water for an edible garden makes sense in more ways than one, that lush green lawn doesn't exactly fit when you live in the middle of a desert. Consider xeriscaping for a drought-resistant, low-maintenance yard. (credit:Flickr:mikemol)
Fix That Leak(03 of10)
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If your leaky faucet can waste up to 3,000 gallons a year, while a leaky toilet can waste up to 200 gallons a day. Overall, more than 1 trillion gallons of water leak from U.S. homes every year, the EPA reports. That's certainly good reason to fix your leaks, and spare your water bill the hit while you're at it.To sniff out a faucet or pipe leak, read your water meter before and after a two-hour timeframe when no water is being used. If the meter has changed, then it's likely that you have a leak on your hands. For toilets, just put a drop of food coloring in the tank. If you don't flush and that color turns up in the bowl, then there's a leak.CLICK HERE for more help fixing leaks around your house. (credit:Flickr:VanDammeMaarten.be)
Turn It Off(04 of10)
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It's a no-brainer, but you'd be surprised how many of us forget to turn off the faucet when brushing our teeth. According to the EPA's WaterSense program, the average bathroom faucet flows at a rate of 2 gallons per minute. In other words, a single person can save an average of 8 gallons of water each day by simply turning off the faucet when they brush their teeth.That's nearly 3,000 gallons a year you could be pouring down the sink while you brush your teeth -- so time to turn that faucet off! (credit:Flickr:fatherspoon)
Insulate(05 of10)
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Most pipes and water heaters are not insulated. Doing so will not only cut your water usage (as it won't take as long for your water to heat up), but will reduce your energy bill too.While many kits are available to help insulate your pipes and heater, a quick trip to the hardware store for a few easy-to-find materials can yield the same effective results. CLICK HERE to see eartheasy.com's guide to DIY insulating. (credit:Flickr:torkhum)
Ditch The Old Toilet(06 of10)
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These days, toilets are made that use less than 1.28 gallons per flush. That's 60 percent better than their old counterparts, which before 1992 used at least 3.5 gallons. If you're still holding on to that old toilet, you could literally be flushing your money down it.A new toilet could save you around $2,000 in water consumption over its lifetime. Considering a water-conserving model only requires you to drop a couple of hundred, it's definitely a wise investment. (credit:Flickr:Roger Saunders)
Ease Off The Baths(07 of10)
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A full bath can take 70 gallons to fill, according to the EPA, while a 5-minute shower will only wash away anywhere from 10 to 25 gallons. Clearly, the better choice is apparent. (credit:Flickr:ellyjonez)
Don't Let All That Rain Go To Waste(08 of10)
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Why rely on water pumped into your home from pipes, when you can supplement that load with what's readily available, falling from the sky? Rain water catchment systems aren't as complicated or as expensive as many people think. And it doesn't just have to be a simple barrel -- many types exist, such as a flat mattress-style container that can slide under a deck or porch for all your rainwater recycling needs.CLICK HERE to watch a video on rainwater recycling from smartplanet.com to see how to set up a comprehensive system that can filter water and pump it back in to your laundry machine. Or if you want something easier, CLICK HERE to see how simple it is to set up your own rainwater barrel to gather water to use in your garden. (credit:Flickr:AlmazUK)
Lean Mean Washing Machine(09 of10)
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According to the EPA, the average washing machine uses about 41 gallons per load. Be sure you are only running full loads so that water isn't unnecessarily being wasted, and better yet -- upgrade to a high-efficiency machine that uses less than 28 gallons per load. And of course, you can always try to be more judicious with your laundry schedule: Are those pants really dirty, or can they go another round before needing a good clean? (credit:Flickr:jim212jim)
Install a laundry to landscape greywater system(10 of10)
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UCLA reported that if 10% of So. Cal. homes installed a L2L greywater system it would save enough water to offset the need for a large desalination plant.

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