Water is a precious and valuable commodity here in America, not to mention in developing countries. With trying to live a more eco-friendly life, conserving water, is part of the equation. There are several things one can do to conserve water, and also to use it more wisely. Read the tips below from Metro Council on Indoor Water Conservation.

Indoor Water Conservation Tips

Check for and repair leaks
Check all water lines and faucets (including outdoor) for leaks. One way is to turn off all water in your house and read your meter. Come back in 15 minutes. If the dial has moved, you have a leak.

Check for toilet leaks
Once a year, check for toilet leaks. Remove the toilet tank cover and drip 10 drops of food coloring into the tank. After 15 minutes, check for color in the toilet bowl. If you see any color, your toilet has a leak. And remember to check your flapper periodically to make sure it’s a tight fit.

Install water saving shower heads
Low-flow showerheads deliver 2.5 gallons of water or less per minute and are relatively inexpensive. Older showerheads use 5 to 7 gallons per minute.

Try a navy shower
Due to a lack of fresh water aboard ship, sailors were taught to get wet, turn off the water, soap and scrub, then briefly turn the water on to rinse — a good routine for all of us.

Take shorter showers or take a bath
Simply taking shorter showers will save gallons of water. For long exposures to the water, a partially filled bath instead of a shower will use less water.

Install a 1.6 gallon low-flow toilet
Ultra-low flow toilets use only 1.6 gallons of water per flush. Using these could cut indoor water use by as much as 20%. Older toilets use 3.5 to 7 gallons per flush.

Don’t use the toilet as a wastebasket
Using a wastebasket instead of the toilet for tissues and other bits of trash will save gallons of water that are otherwise wasted.

Install high-efficiency, low-flow faucet aerators
Older faucets use between 3 and 7 gallons per minute. Low-flow faucet aerators use no more than 1.5 gallons of water per minute. The aerators can be attached to most existing faucets.

Insulate pipes
You will waste less water waiting for the hot water to get to the faucet.

For the complete list of water conservation tips, visit Metro Council here.