While many of us work hard to conserve water outdoors during the summer months, we can also play a part in conserving water indoors. Here are some tips to help you out.

In the kitchen

• Install a low-flow faucet aerator, which can cut water use in half
• If your dishwasher is new, cut back on rinsing your dishes. Newer models clean more thoroughly than older ones
• When buying a new dishwasher, consider purchasing a water-saving model. Newer models can cut water use by 25 per cent and are no more expensive than non-conserving models
• Wash only full loads in the dishwasher
• Soak pots and pans before washing instead of letting the water run while you scrape them clean
• When washing dishes by hand, don't let the water run while rinsing. Fill one sink with wash water and the other with a few centimetres of rinse water
• Rinse your fruits and vegetables in a pan of water instead of running water from the tap. Reuse this water for your house plants
• Re-use the nutrient-rich water left over from cooked or steamed foods to start a scrumptious and nutritious soup
• For cold drinks, keep a pitcher of water in the refrigerator instead of running the tap. This way, every drop goes down you and not the drain
• Designate one glass for your drinking water each day or refill a water bottle. This will cut down on the number of glasses to wash
• Use the garbage disposal sparingly. Compost fruit and vegetable trimmings and peeling instead and save litres of water every time
• Don't use running water to thaw food. Defrost food in the refrigerator for water efficiency and food safety
• Install an instant water heater near your kitchen sink so you don't have to run the water while it heats up. This also reduces energy costs

Bathroom

• Bathroom use accounts for about 65 per cent of the water used inside the home
• Check regularly for any leaks and fix them. Most common bathroom leaks are found in faucets and in and around toilets
• Make sure there are water-saving aerators on all of your faucets
• Teach your children to turn off faucets tightly after each use

Sink

• Turn off the tap water while brushing your teeth and save more than 90 litres a month
• Turn off the water while you shave and save 1,100 litres a month
• When you are washing your hands or face, leave the water off while you lather on the soap and only turn it on to rinse

Toilet

• Replace older toilets with the newer more efficient models. Today's ultra-low-flush toilets use only six litres of water per flush. That's a far cry from the conventional 20-litre models sold in the 1970s and 1980s, and the 13-litre models sold in the 1980s and 1990s
• Check your toilet for leaks – fixing leaks can save 3,500 litres of water each month. To test for leaks, put food coloring in your toilet tank. If the coloured water seeps into the toilet bowl without flushing, you have a leak
• If your toilet flapper doesn't close after flushing, replace it
• If your toilet was installed before 1992, you can reduce the amount of water used for each flush by inserting a displacement device in the tank
• Do not use the toilet to dispose of paper, facial tissues or cigarettes
• If the toilet handle frequently sticks in the flush position, letting water run constantly, make sure you replace or adjust it

Bathtub

• Use the minimum amount of water needed for a bath by filling the tub only one-third full
• When running a bath, plug the tub before turning the water on, then adjust the temperature as the tub fills up
• Bathe your young children together

Shower

• Take a five-minute shower
• Use a water-efficient showerhead. They're inexpensive, easy to install, and can save you about 2,800 litres a month
• Shorten your shower by a minute or two and you'll save more than 500 litres per month
• Turn off the water while you wash your hair to save more than 500 litres a month
• To save water and time, consider washing your face or brushing your teeth while in the shower
• Keep a bucket in the shower to catch water as it warms up or runs. Use this water to flush toilets or water plants
• If your shower fills a 3.5-litre bucket in less than 20 seconds, replace the showerhead with a water-efficient model

Laundry room

• When buying a new clothes washer, consider purchasing a water-saving model. New horizontal-axis models can save up to 40 per cent of the water used by a conventional model. Check with your municipality to see if it provides rebates on the purchase of water-saving clothes washers
• Wash only full loads in the clothes washer
• Insulate your water pipes. You'll get hot water faster and avoid wasting water while it heats up
• When doing laundry, match the water level to the size of the load
• When buying new appliances, consider those that offer cycle and load size adjustments. They are typically more water and energy efficient
• Washing dark clothes in cold water saves on both water and energy and helps keep clothing colours bright
• When shopping for a new clothes washer, compare resource savings among Energy Star models. Some of these can save both energy and many litres of water per load

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