What You Can Do About Climate Change — Water

As the climate changes, some communities could face water supply shortages and impacts to water infrastructure. A significant amount of energy is required to pump, treat, and heat water, so saving water can also save energy and money. Among the simplest ways to save both water and energy is to install water-efficient products and fix leaks.

You can take steps to save water in every part of your home and outdoor areas. Every drop counts.

Actions You Can Take

Fix leaks around the house

Check for water leaks in the toilets, faucets, and showerheads around your home. Did you know a leaky toilet can waste 200 gallons of water per day? Luckily, leaks from toilets, faucets, and pipes are often easy to detect and fix. Learn more about different types of leaks in the Fix a Leak Week At Home Activity (pdf) (393 kb) and check out EPA Water Sense Fix a Leak Week resources to learn how to fix them.

Save water in the bathroom:

Replacing old, inefficient toilets with WaterSense labeled models can save water and money. With WaterSense models, the average family can reduce water used for toilets by 20 to 60 percent each year, saving almost $3,400 over the lifetime of the toilets!

Consider installing more efficient showerheads. WaterSense labeled showerheads save energy and money and can be taken with you when you move.

Take shorter showers. Cutting your shower time can also save energy and money, and, depending on your showerhead, a one-minute reduction can save up to several gallons of water.

Turn off the faucet while brushing teeth.

Save water in the kitchen:

Use your ENERGY STAR certified dishwasher instead of washing dishes by hand to save both energy and water.

If washing dishes by hand, plug up the sink or use a wash basin.

Compost food scraps instead of using the garbage disposal.

Save water in the laundry room:

A small white building green plants on the roof and a rain barrel

Look for the ENERGY STAR label on clothes washers when purchasing new products to save water, energy, and money.

Wash only full loads of laundry and use the appropriate load size selection on the washing machine. Save more energy by using cold water rather than hot water.

Save water outside:

Create a water-smart landscape by designing a landscape suitable to your local climate and choosing drought-resistant plants. Check out EPA’s tips to develop a beautiful water-smart landscape.

Know when and how much to water your yard or garden.

If you have an irrigation system, be sure to water wisely by doing a Sprinkler Spruce-Up to check that your system is in proper working order and upgrading to a WaterSense labeled controller.

Check out more water-saving tips from EPA Water Sense.