Spend five minutes or less in the shower. Quick showers use less water than baths.
Fix all leaky toilets, faucets and pipes. Check for a leaky toilet by putting a few drops of food coloring in the tank. If the color appears in the bowl after 30 minutes, the toilet is leaking. You may need to replace the flapper to fix the leak. Check the water supply lines under your sink for damp spots or bulges in the hose, which may indicate a leak.
Install a WaterSense-labeled, high-efficiency showerhead.
Replace an old toilet with an ultra-high-efficiency toilet, which can pay for itself over time in water savings. Denver Water offers rebates for qualifying models.
Insulate your water heater and water pipes. Doing so will save energy and also will cut down on the amount of water that goes down the drain while waiting for hot water to flow.
Catch water in a bucket or watering can while waiting for hot or cold water to run. Use the water on plants.
Turn off the water while shaving, brushing your teeth and lathering in the shower.
Shave with a small amount of water in the sink instead of running water.
Replace or install a high-efficiency aerator on your bathroom faucet.
Kitchen and Laundry
Do not let water run while hand-washing dishes.
Wash only full loads in the washing machine and dishwasher. Try to wash two fewer loads per week.
Wash vegetables and fruits in a bowl or basin using a vegetable brush instead of letting water run. Use the extra water on plants.
Soak dishes that need to be pre-rinsed instead of running them under water.
Scrape dishes instead of rinsing them off before putting them in the dishwasher.
Chill drinking water in the refrigerator instead of running the faucet until the water is cold.
Defrost food in the refrigerator, not in a pan of water on the counter or in the sink.
Run garbage disposals only when necessary. Compost food waste instead.
Replace or install a high-efficiency aerator on your kitchen faucet.
Consider buying a high-efficiency washing machine.
