Beat the rising water rates Courtesy of the World Wildlife Fund
	ince vast amounts of water must be imported to support our lifestyles here, water conservation has always been a good idea. But now, water rates are going up to add a financial penalties for excessive residential uses. At the same time your bill can go down if you cut uses. Here are some simple ideas that will help conserve water in your home.
Lower the Flow
	Installing a low-flow shower head reduces the flow of water by 50 percent. Energy use and costs may also drop by as much as 50 percent, because it requires less energy to heat less water. A low-flow faucet aerator combines air with water as it comes out of the tap. An aerator can cut water consumption by 50 percent, which cuts water use by 280 gallons a month. Low-flow shower heads and faucet aerators are available from most hardware stores.
Don't let it run away
	When brushing your teeth, if you just wet and rinse your brush instead of letting the water run, you will save 9 gallons of water each time you brush. When shaving, filling the basin instead of letting the water run will save 14 gallons of water.
Timing is everything
	If you have to water your lawn, doing so in the early morning can save gallons from disappearing into thin air, since water from sprinklers evaporates 4-8 times faster at midday than in the early morning.
Don't let it go down the drain
	The best option is to install a low-flow toilet. - this is now required in California when houses are sold. Flushing an older toilet uses up to 7 gallons of water. Forty percent of the pure water in your home is flushed down the toilet. Of course you have to flush your toilet, but you don't have to waste this much water while doing it. Simply put a plastic bottle in your toilet tank to take up space that would go to excess water. This can save 1 to 2 gallons on every flush! Follow these steps: Get a dish washing soap bottle or a laundry soap bottle. Soak off the label Fill the bottle with water and put on the cap Place it in the tank (make sure it doesn't interfere with the flushing mechanism). Toilet dams are also available from some companies. Although they are a little more complicated to install, they can save 4 gallons with every flush.
Based on tips courtesy of the World Wildlife Fund ,www.wwf.org.