Even for people who don't live in a drought-stricken region, reducing water consumption also means a lower bill and helps conserve a precious resource. There are several ways, large and small, that the community can conserve water around their homes. Here are some ideas to avoid wasting water: Instead of letting the water run down the drain, place a bucket under the faucet while you wait for the shower water to heat up. Use this water to flush the toilet or water your plants. Water comes out of the average faucet at 2.5 gallons per minute (Striepe). Don't let all the water run down the drain while brushing your teeth or washing your hands. Close the tap when not in use. Fixing leaky pipes will also help conserve water, whether you do it yourself or hire a plumber to do it. Instead of dumping the water used to make pasta down the drain, try draining it into a large pot. Once cooled, it can be used to water plants. Just make sure to wait, because if one dumps boiling water on their plants, they could get hurt. Older shower heads can use up to 5 liters of water per minute (Striepe). Speed ​​things up in the shower or simply skip the shower for a day for major water savings, or install a water-saving shower head. Finally, installing water barrels on downspouts is a great way to water plants instead of using a garden hose