The global demand for water has tripled over the last 50 years, and the water tables are falling.

It is vital for everyone to conserve water and be aware of how we use it.  Here are some tips to help you do your part.

1. Install an aerator for faucets and showerheads
Aerators are little, inexpensive devices that you can install in your faucets and showerheads yourself. They restrict the flow but not the water pressure.

For example, most shower heads use five to ten gallons per minute. A low-flow shower head with an aerator can decrease the water flow to two-fifths of a gallon per minute.

2. Place a timer in the shower
This is great for children and adults who can get lost daydreaming in the shower. Place a timer in the shower to make everyone more aware of their water consumption. You can purchase shower timers with suction cups on the back so they stick right on the shower wall and set it for a five or ten minute limit.

3. Turn up the hot water heater
Do you have to wait for the water to heat up before your shower? Every minute it’s left running, 5-10 gallons of water is wasted. By turning your hot water heater up, your shower water will reach your desired temperature faster. A warning here – if you have small children in the house, keep your hot water thermostat below 120 degrees to prevent accidental scalding.

4. Don’t run water
Leaving the water faucet running while you’re brushing your teeth and washing your face is a waste. Turn the water off when you’re not using it.

5. High efficiency toilets
Consider purchasing high efficiency toilets. Some are low-flow toilets, which save an average of 25 gallons of water each day. There are also gravity toilets, pressure assist toilets and those handy toilets that let you decide what type of flush you need.

6. Keep Faucets and plumbing in working order
Maintain faucets and plumbing so they don’t leak. Faucets, toilets and even shower head components break down. Dents, cracks and misaligned seals cause leaks. One faucet dripping twice a minute in your home adds up to 69 gallons of wasted water daily.

7. Place weights in the tank of your toilet
Finally, if purchasing a new toilet isn’t in your future, consider placing weights in the tank of your toilet. You can make home-made weights with an inch of sand in a filled plastic water bottle, or you can purchase float boosters. This method is said to save more than ten gallons of water each day.