We Are Water Project

Freshwater has become a finite resource.

Without significant changes in policy, wars of this century will be fought over control of clean water, not oil.

Protect Our Future

DRINK TAP WATER – Be an example for others. Disposable water bottles waste water and money. It takes 5 quarts to make one bottle of water and a quarter of a bottle of oil to make, transport and dispose of the water. Refill a bottle and drink safe, clean tap water. You’ll save money.

REDUCE YOUR WATER FOOTPRINT – The average American uses 1800 gallons of water per day, twice as much as the rest of the planet. Click on this page to learn about how much water is needed to support your lifestyle.

REDUCE, REUSE AND RECYCLE – Basic conservation helps save water. Turn off running taps. Shop at a thrift store. Stream movies. Download music instead of buying CDs. Shop at bulk stores with less packaging. Carry reusable shopping bags.

EAT LOW ON THE FOOD CHAIN – Plant-based nutrition requires less water than meat to bring to the market. Consider being at least a part-time vegetarian. A hamburger takes over 600 gallons to produce. Support your local farmer’s market.

THINK ABOUT THE WORLD BENEATH YOUR FEET – Everything you do on the surface of the land will be returned to you in drinking water. Dispose of things such as household chemicals and prescription drugs properly or you will be drinking them later.

See We Are Water Film

Jill Reads A Story About Manatees and Water Protection to Kids

Video Resources

How You Can Help

Bathroom

Turn off water while brushing teeth – save 360 liters per week
Fix a dripping tap – save 300 gallons per year
Reduce shower from seven to four minutes – save 60 liters each time
Install low flow shower head – save 11 liters/minute, 750 gallons/month
Install dual flush toilet – save 50% each flush
Put a plug in basin while shaving – 9 liters per minute
Capture shower water for the garden
Flush less – save 2 to 7 gallons each time
Put a brick in the toilet tank – save a liter each flush
Turn off water while you shampoo – save 50 gallons/week
Pee while you shower!

Kitchen

Turn off water while cleaning up – save 100 gallons/week
Buy a water efficient dishwasher – save 50% each time
Wash only full load of dishes – save 120 gallons per month
Use economy setting on dishwasher – save 4 liters
Compost instead of using your garbage disposal – save 9 liters per minute
Catch running water while it warms up
Plug the sink to rinse dishes or veggies
Defrost the night before instead of using running water
Use a wash basin in sink, then recycle to the garden
Fix a drip – save up to 75 liters a day
Save cold water in the fridge instead of running the tap
Become a part time vegetarian
Eat less meat
Install a low flow faucet – save 50% of your water use
Buy WaterSense appliances
Use veggie rinse water on plants
Reuse the same drinking glass all day
Soak and scrape pots and pans rather than running water
Reuse veggie cooking water for tasty soup stock

Laundry

Use a water efficient washing machine – save 30 gallons every load
Only wash a full loads – saves 10 liters
Install a grey water system to recycle laundry water
Pretreat stains so they only get washed once
Buy EnergyStar appliances
Use natural soap nuts instead of detergent
Attach a hose to your washing machine outlet for use in the garden

Habits

Use old fish tank water on plants
Teach kids to turn off faucets properly
Reduce the distance from the water heater to the sink
Try on-demand water heaters for the shower or kitchen
Insulate hot water pipes to retain heat
Look for EPA WaterSense labels
Drink tap water
Avoid putting medications in the toilet
Avoid putting chemicals in the toilet or down the sink
Don’t put fat and grease down the sink
Mix grease with bird seeds and invite birds to your garden
Buy a used car. It takes 120,000 to make a new one
Reuse clothing. It takes 1800 gallons to make a pair of blue jeans
Drive less. It takes 70 gallons of water to produce one gallon of gas
Give $15 to CharityWater.org so someone in the developing world can have a clean water supply.
Ride your bicycle instead of driving.
Think before you buy. Is there something you can recycle or reuse?

Yard

Irrigate early or late but not in the sunny part of the day
Avoid irrigating on windy days
Use less fertilizer
Create more shade in your yard to retain moisture
Use rain barrels
Eliminate herbicides
Pull weeds instead of using RoundUp
Replace part of the lawn with pebbles
Plants more shrubs. Mulch and compost your garden
Use old blankets, carpet or cardboard in between crop rows for weed barriers
Group veggies in your garden by water needs
Mulch the garden to reduce evaporation – reduces watering 70%
Aerate and spike lawns in the spring for deep roots and drought tolerance
Check the pool for leaks – 500 liters per day
Cover the pool or hot tub (or just get rid of it)
Don’t trim the grass too short – longer needs less water
Plant drought resistant native plants
Direct rain gutters to plants that need it
Pee in the yard
Cover rain barrels
If you irrigate on a timer, install a rain shutoff
Pee in your compost pile
Direct the air conditioner drips to plants that need it
If you have to water, use drip irrigation
Check outdoor taps for leaks – save 1000 liters per year
Water the garden with a trigger nozzle not a sprinkler
Use a bucket and sponge to wash the car
Go to a car wash that reuses water
Wash your car on the lawn
Collect rainwater for the garden
Sweep the driveway instead of hosing it down
Look for leaks – check water meter for two hours during no consumption period
Add walkway pavers and patio areas and let them runoff to garden
Plant more shrubs and ground cover to reduce the lawn
Water plants deeply but less often to improve drought tolerance
Learn where your master water shutoff valve is located
Let your lawn go dormant Wash the dog on the grass Teach kids to turn off faucets properly
Reduce the distance from the water heater to the sink
Try on-demand water heaters for the shower or kitchen
Insulate hot water pipes to retain heat
Look for EPA WaterSense labels
Drink tap water
Avoid putting medications in the toilet
Avoid putting chemicals in the toilet or down the sink
Don’t put fat and grease down the sink
Mix grease with bird seeds and invite birds to your garden
Buy a used car. It takes 120,000 to make a new one
Reuse clothing. It takes 1800 gallons to make a pair of blue jeans
Drive less. It takes 70 gallons of water to produce one gallon of gas
Give $15 to CharityWater.org so someone in the developing world can have a clean water supply.
Ride your bicycle instead of driving.
Think before you buy. Is there something you can recycle or reuse?