Wondering how you can save on your water usage and your water bill? How about turning off water when you aren’t actively using it?

When I read No Impact Man late last year, it really made me aware how I could greatly reduce my water usage with just a few little changes in behavior.

The biggest thing you can do? Turn off the water when you are not using it. Often we let water and the money we spend on water go down the drain while washing or rinsing something.

If you are brushing your teeth, you have two options. Option 1 is turn off the flow of water into your sink when you are actively brushing and turn it back on when rinsing the toothbrush brush and your mouth. Option 2 is to get a cup and fill it with water and use the water in the cup to clean off the brush and then to rinse out your mouth.

While showering you’ve got a couple of options to decrease water usage. You can get a shower head that allows you to turn the water to a trickle for about $10-$12 at your local hardware store. These showerhead a have a little button or lever that you flip to slow the water to a trickle while you soap up. You can also just turn off the water while you soap up.

If you’re rinsing something (veggies) fill the sink part way with water and rinse the items. Once you are done, let the water go down the drain. If you have plants, add a dishpan to the sink before you do your rinsing and then use the rinse water to water your plants.

These are just a few ways that you can save tap water and not only add to your bottom line, but the earth’s as well.