From the kitchen to the bathroom to the laundry room, changing your habits can help Georgia conserve a vital resource and save you money on your water bill. Water consumption can be reduced easily at little or no cost.  

Water conservation saves energy too. Energy needed to heat water and run appliances.

Looking for ways to cut down on your indoor water use? Follow the tips listed below to help your community save water during the current drought.

General
Never pour water down the drain. There are other uses for it.
Repair dripping faucets by replacing washers. Every drop counts!
Check all plumbing for leaks. Have leaks repaired by a plumber.
Retrofit all household faucets by installing aerators with flow restrictors.
Install an instant hot water heater on your sink.
Install a water-softening system only when the minerals in the water would damage your pipes. Turn the softener off while on vacation. Insulate your water pipes to reduce heat loss and prevent them from breaking.

Kitchen
Operate automatic dishwashers only when they are fully loaded.
Hand wash dishes by filling two containers - one with soapy water and the other with rinse water containing a small amount of chlorine bleach.
Clean vegetables in a pan filled with water rather than running water from the tap.
Start a compost pile as an alternate method of disposing of food waste or simply dispose of food in the garbage. Kitchen sink disposals require a lot of water to operate properly.
Store drinking water in the refrigerator. Do not let the tap run while you are waiting for water to cool.
Avoid wasting water waiting for it to get hot. Capture it for other uses such as plant watering or heat it on the stove or in a microwave.
Avoid rinsing dishes before placing them in the dishwasher; just remove large particles of food. Most dishwashers can clean soiled dishes very well, so dishes do not have to be rinsed before washing.
Avoid using running water to thaw meat or other frozen foods. Defrost food overnight in the refrigerator or use the defrost setting on your microwave oven.

Laundry
Operate automatic clothes washers only when they are fully loaded or set the water level for the size of your load.

Bathroom
Consider purchasing a low-volume toilet that uses less than half the water of older models. Note: In many areas, low-volume units are required by law.
Install a toilet displacement device to cut down on the amount of water needed to flush. Place a one-gallon plastic jug of water into the tank to displace toilet flow (do not use a brick, it may dissolve and loose pieces may cause damage to the internal parts). Be sure installation does not interfere with the operating parts.
Replace your showerhead with an ultra-low-flow version.
Place a bucket in the shower to catch excess water for watering plants.
Avoid flushing the toilet unnecessarily. Dispose of tissues, insects, and other similar waste in the trash rather than the toilet.
Avoid taking baths - take short showers - turn on water only to get wet and lather and then again to rinse off.
Avoid letting the water run while brushing your teeth, washing your face or shaving.