Everyone can make a difference through water conservation. Many times, water saving tips involve little to no monetary investment, but can help lead to significant decreases in water usage.

• Replace existing showerheads with low-flow showerheads. This simple change reduces water usage from approximately 7 gallons per minute to 2.5 gallons per minute.

• Take shorter showers and use showerheads with temporary shut-off valves to turn water off while shampooing or bathing. This can save more than 50 gallons of water per week.

• Use less water when taking a bath by closing the drain and filling the tub 1/3 full with the cold water that initially comes out of the faucet. The cold water can then be warmed by adding hot water.

• Turn the water off when you're brushing your teeth, washing your hands, or shaving. This change is simple to make and can save nearly 4 gallons of water per minute or 200 gallons per week for a family of four.

• Install faucet aerators on all sinks.

• Check for leaking faucets. One drip per second coming out of your faucet can equal 200 to 240 gallons of water per month. Leaking faucets can often be cheaply repaired by replacing worn washers and valve seals.

• Replace flapper valves on your toilets if they stick open after flushing. A toilet flapper stuck partially open can waste approximately 50,000 gallons of water per month.

• Replace old, inefficient toilets with new low flow toilets. Low flow toilets use 1.7 gallons per flush while older model toilets use 3.5 to 7 gallons of water per flush. Look for the new EPA WaterSense label.

• Check toilets for leaks. Fixing a toilet that leaks 500 gallons of water per day could save over $1,000 per year. To find leaks, place a few drops of food coloring or a dye tablet in the toilet tank and do not flush the toilet. Wait 5 minutes, if the coloring appears in the toilet bowl, you have a leak. On average, 8% of all home water use is wasted through leaks.

• Install a toilet displacement device or a weighted plastic container in your toilet tank to reduce the amount of water your toilet uses during flushing.

• Check for leaking pipes. To conduct a leak test, turn off all water using devices and read the water meter. Eliminate all water usage for one hour, and then read the water meter again. If the meter reading has increased, then you have a water leak, and it is recommended you contact a plumber.

• Wash only full loads of clothes. This can save approximately 50 gallons of water per load. If it is necessary to wash a smaller load, then adjust water levels in the washing machine to a lower level.

• Check for leaks on washing machine hose connections. This could save up to 500 gallons of water per month.

• If you are using an automatic dishwasher, wash only full loads.

• If washing dishes by hand, do not run the water continuously. Fill one sink with wash water and one with rinse water. This can save approximately 200 gallons of water per week for a family of four.

• Use kitchen sink disposals sparingly, as they require substantial amounts of water to operate effectively.

• Do not thaw frozen foods by running hot water over the food. Place the item in the refrigerator overnight to defrost or utilize the defrost option on your microwave if available.