We all use more water than we realize. Every day, without thinking about it, we waste gallons of water—and end up paying for it in our water bills. This month we were going to write 6 tips to help you save water (and money) but we found that once we had turned on the “ideas tap” we just couldn’t turn it off so instead here are thirteen tips on how to save water.

1. Don’t run the water constantly when washing dishes. Instead, scrub the dishes with a sponge or scrubbing brush, turn the water on to rinse then turn it off again.
2. To wash fruits and vegetables, half fill a bowl and use it to rinse them off. Don’t rinse them under the tap. Anytime you run your tap and most of the water goes down the drain, you’re wasting water and probably could do whatever you’re doing more efficiently without running the water constantly.
3. Don’t run the water while you’re shaving, brushing your teeth, or washing your hands.  The same principles apply here—you don’t need that water on constantly. You’re not using that running water when you’re brushing your teeth—so don’t let it flow down the drain.
4. Ready for a nice, cold glass of water? Don’t turn your tap on and then wait for the water to run cold. Instead, keep a jug or bottle of water in your fridge. That way, your water is always cold and ready to drink—and you don’t waste any water getting it.
5. Take more showers. In most cases, you’ll use less water in a shower than in a bath. If you must take baths, plug the drain before turning the water on. When you have finished in the bath use a bucket or large bottle to empty your bath water and water the garden with it.
6. Don’t wash small loads in your washing machine, wait until you have a full load. To save even more water, use the shortest cycle. Your clothes will get just as clean, and you’ll save money on your water and electricity bills.
7. Buy water-saving appliances. You can find water-saving washing machines and dishwashers—ask the salespeople to show you the most water-efficient models.
8. Check for a leaky toilet or tap. Toilet leaks cause a lot of water waste—and most people don’t even realize they have one. To check yours, put a few drops of food colouring in the cistern. If the colour shows up in the bowl, your flush valve is leaking. Getting this fixed can save you gallons of water per year.  Similarly replacing that washer in the tap can stop the dripping and save you money.
9. Water your outdoor plants before 7 in the morning or after 5 at night. This will keep your water from evaporating under the sun.
10. Put your sprinklers in the right place. Many people place sprinklers in a place where part of the flow hits a walkway or drive. Instead, make sure your sprinkler jets are targeting the plants you need to water.
11. Use a rain barrel. Put a barrel or other watertight container under your gutters to catch rainwater. You can then use this water on your garden and plants without taxing your water bill.
12. Don’t flush rubbish down the toilet, use the bin.  You will avoid problems from blocked drains or cess pits and save water. You can also reduce the amount you flush by placing a brick in your cistern.
13. When you have boiled vegetables, eggs, pasta, etc., let the water cool and use this to water the garden.  You can also put on the leftover tea from the teapot and vegetable peelings.  My grandmother used to do this and she had the best hydrangeas I have ever seen. 

Saving water is a worthy goal and once you get into the habit, it is surprisingly easy to do. In most cases, people don’t notice that they’re using less water until they see the difference in their water bill, that is.