THE BASICS

• Always make sure that all faucets are tightly closed. A tap left running wastes 200 liters of water every 5 minutes.
• Check for leaks regularly and have them repaired immediately.
• Recycle water. Use the rinse water from washing clothes or dishes for flushing the toilet, cleaning the car and garage, watering plants or washing rags.
• Collect rainwater from the gutter and use it for cleaning the car, flooring, or flushing the toilet.

IN THE GARAGE

• When washing your car, use a pail, not water hose and a cotton rag instead of a sponge. Not only does this save water, a cotton rag is also friendlier to your car’s paint.
• Don’t hose down your driveway. Use a water pail and broom instead.

IN THE KITCHEN

• Soak greasy plates first in hot water. Wash slightly greased utensils first before the greasier ones.
• Don’t use running water to soak, soap and rinse your dishes or to clean fruits and vegetables. Instead, use a basin or fill up the sink halfway. If you must use the tap, turn it only when you are ready to rinse.
• Do not thaw frozen food under a running tap. Bring out frozen food early enough to thaw at room temperature before cooking.
• Use only the right amount of water to cook food.
• Re-use the water left over from cooked or steamed foods to start a scrumptious and nutritious soup.
• Designate one glass of drinking water for personal use each day or refill a water bottle. This will cut down on the number of glasses to wash.

IN THE LAUNDRY

When washing by hand:

• Soak heavily soiled clothes first to remove dirt easily.
• Use a basin or washtub with the right amount of water.
• Don’t let the basin overflow under a running tap.

When using a washing machine:

• Wash with full load only every other day.
• Use only the necessary amount of detergent so that less rinsing is required.
• When shopping for a new clothes washer, consider resource savings among energy star models that offer cycle and load size adjustments. They’re energy efficient and can save up to 20 gallons of water per load.

IN THE BATHROOM & TOILET

• In using the toilet, avoid unnecessary flushing. One flushing uses up to 20 liters of water.
• Turn off the tap while washing/shaving or brushing your teeth.
• Use a glass of water to gargle. Use only short bursts of water from the tap to rinse your toothbrush or razor. This saves about 80%  of the water normally used.
• If your toilet flapper doesn’t close after flushing, replace it. It is better to upgrade older toilets with water efficient models.
• Put coloring in your toilet tank. If it seeps into the toilet bowl without flushing, you have a leak. Fixing it can save up to 1,000 gallons a month.
• In bathing, use a pail and a dipper (tabo) instead of the shower. If you must use the shower, turn off the water while you are soaping and shampooing and don’t stay under the shower longer than necessary when rinsing. If you must use the bath tub, don’t over fill it.
• Use a water-efficient shower head. They’re inexpensive, easy to install, and can save you up to 750 gallons a month.
• Shorten your shower by a minute or two and you’ll save up to 150 gallons per month.
• If your shower fills a one-gallon bucket in less than 20 seconds, replace the shower head with a water-efficient model.

IN THE GARDEN

• Water your plants, garden or lawn early in the morning, late in the afternoon, or during the cool part of the day. Don’t water during the windy days or at high noon. Don’t operate water sprinklers during the warmest parts of the day; half of the water will only evaporate.
• Don’t water too often. Grass does not need a lot of water. Never soak your lawn with water; soil cannot store excess water.
• Next time you add or replace a flower or shrub, choose a low water use plant for a year-round landscape color and save up to 550 gallons each year.
• Adjust your lawn mower to a higher setting. A taller lawn shades roots and holds soil moisture better than if it is closely clipped.
• When cleaning out fish tanks, give the nutrient-rich water to your plants.
• Rather than following a set of watering schedule, check for soil moisture two to three inches below the surface before watering.
• Wash your pets outdoors in an area of your lawn that needs water.

IN THE BUILDING

For Building Administrators (Industries, Schools, and Hotels)

• Check the plumbing system of the building. Repair immediately leaks and damaged water lines. Make this a regular practice.
• Recycle water (i.e. final wash water from laundry can be used for toiled flushing and floor mopping).
• Collect and reuse hot condensates from steam boilers as boiler feed water.
• Monitor water use and waste water generation to measure the costs and savings. Install individual flow meters in the areas with high water consumption.
• Fit hoses with shut off nozzles and install low volume and high pressure nozzles (LVPH) or flow constrictors in faucets and showers. This will reduce in half water use and waste water generation.
• Post water conservation tips in strategic places in the building. Encourage employees, guests and school children in finding and practicing ways to save water.
• Direct water from rain gutters and heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems toward water-loving plants in the landscape for automatic water savings.
• Have your plumber re-route your gray water to trees and gardens rather than letting it run into the sewer line.

Source: MWSS-RO, Public Information Department. (2010) http://www.mwssro.org.ph/publication_water_saving_tip.htm