It is important to conserve water nowadays because of the drought California is suffering. Here are a few ways that people can conserve water. Using water only when necessary prevents water waste and helps the world. However, if we continue to not do anything to conserve water, we will run out of drinkable water as well as provoke a series of local and global problems such as rising costs, reduced food supplies, health hazards and government bans.

1. Take Shorter Showers:
One way you can save water is to take shorter showers. The most conservative way you can take a shower is to turn off the shower after soaping up then to turn it back on to rinse. According to eartheasy.com, a four-minute shower can take up 20 to 40 gallons of water every day.

2. Turn Off the Water:
Another way you can conserve water is to turn off the water while you brush your teeth. Fill a cup with water to dampen your toothbrush in it. Then, rinse your mouth with the cup of water. To keep the water running as you brush your teeth is not water wise. It’s the same thing when you shave, men or women. When you shave, just turn off the faucet.

3. Wash Full Loads of Dishes:
Don’t keep the water running while washing the dishes by hand. Fill your sink with warm soapy water to wash them. Using the garbage disposal is also something you shouldn’t do often, because it needs running water. This will save up 8 to 12 gallons of water, according to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation website.

4. Wash Full Loads of Laundry:
Washing clothes is the same, as well. Wash full loads of laundry to save 40 gallons of water, depending on the kind of washer you have. For example, a resource-efficient washer can save up to 15 gallons of water per load.

5. Use excess water for plants:
Something I do often is that when I drink water from a water bottle, I sometimes end up having a little bit left over and I throw it on the plants that need it, instead of throwing the rest of the water into the sink or throwing the bottle away without emptying it.

6. Make sure your sink isn’t leaking:
When you’re at home, make sure to keep an eye on your sinks and faucets to make sure they aren’t leaking. An average household leak can waste more than 10,000 gallons of water every year. You could also put buckets in the sink or shower to capture water while you wait for it to get hot. This can also be used for plants.

These ways to save water can also help save energy and can help avoid contamination of our natural water resources due to a reduction in water use. About 1.2 trillion gallons of water is wasted every year in the U.S., according to the washingtonpost.com.