Water Conservation: How Everyone Can Fight the Water Crisis

Water is More Precious Than You Think

Taking water for granted is easy when it seems abundant. If you’re not hearing about water shortages in the news, and your tap still runs like normal, you might assume there’s nothing to worry about. But that assumption is often misguided.

For instance, did you know you could be living in a drought and not even realize it?

Many regions experience hidden water stress — where groundwater reserves are depleting faster than they’re being replenished, even if lakes and reservoirs still look full. Large portions of the United States experience drought conditions every year, and the EPA estimates that many states will face water shortages in the coming decades. 

But because water infrastructure continues delivering what we need, most people never feel the effects. Consequently, they don’t give their water consumption a second thought. 

Meanwhile, other parts of the world — like the communities where The Water Project works — feel every drop of scarcity. When water is limited, life is limited. Families have to make impossible choices about what little they have.

For people living with piped water at home, the decision to conserve water can be as simple as turning off the tap while scrubbing their hands or running a full dishwasher instead of a half-full one. They know subconsciously that their faucet will still provide water the next time they use it, so these decisions don’t hold much weight.

In places where water is physically scarce, the stakes are much higher. The scant water a mother collects after walking miles won’t last if she tries to do everything her family needs. She faces impossible decisions, like: should she wash her children’s clothes today, or should she save the water for cooking?

This is why conservation matters. Even in places where water is abundant, saving it helps ensure a future where no one has to make impossible choices just to get enough to survive.

The Scarcity of Fresh Water

According to the United States Geological Survey, water covers 71% of Earth’s surface, but 96.5% of it is salt water — undrinkable without expensive treatment. Only 2.5% is fresh water, and of that, about 68% is locked away in glaciers and ice caps. Another 30% exists as groundwater, some of which is trapped too deep underground to be accessed. That leaves us with just 0.3% of the world’s fresh water readily available in lakes, rivers, and swamps.

To put this into perspective, if Earth’s total water supply were represented by 100 liters, the fresh water available to us would amount to just half a teaspoon.

And the situation is getting worse.

Between 2014 and 2016, the world lost an estimated 290 cubic miles of fresh water — that’s 250% of the volume of Lake Erie. Once fresh water is lost, it isn’t easily replenished. Climate change, deforestation, and pollution disrupt natural water cycles, making it harder for rain to replenish lakes, rivers, and groundwater reserves. Some of the world’s most important water sources — like the Ogallala Aquifer in the U.S. and Lake Chad in Africa — are disappearing faster than nature can replace them.

Does Saving Water Really Matter If My Area Has Plenty?

A common question people ask when learning about water conservation is: “If I live in a place where water isn’t scarce, how does saving water actually help?”

It’s a fair question. If you’re not pulling water directly from disappearing resources like Lake Chad or the Ogallala Aquifer, then your personal water use might not seem connected to global water issues. 

But here’s why saving water always matters, no matter where you live:

• Water treatment and distribution require energy. Every gallon of water that flows through your pipes has been pumped, treated, and heated, all of which require electricity, chemicals, and infrastructure. Reducing your water use also reduces your carbon footprint, making conservation an environmental win beyond just saving water.
• Climate patterns are shifting. A region that has plenty of water today may not have it tomorrow. The U.S. Drought Monitor has shown that droughts are expanding into places where water shortages were once rare. 45 U.S. states are currently experiencing moderate drought or worse. Good water habits now mean better resilience for your area later.
• Reducing demand delays future water shortages. Overuse and wasteful consumption strain local water supplies over time. Even if your area isn’t currently water-stressed, population growth and changing rainfall patterns can turn an abundant resource into a scarce one.
• Your actions inspire broader change. When people adopt water-saving habits, it influences policy, industry standards, and community practices. Individual efforts add up — they drive demand for more efficient appliances, encourage businesses to cut water waste, and promote responsible policies at every level.

Even if you don’t live in a water-scarce area, conserving water reduces waste, saves energy, and strengthens long-term water security — for you and for future generations.

The Most Effective Ways to Conserve Water at Home

The last time The Water Project wrote about conserving water at home, we focused on surprisingly easy changes that save water — small steps that fit seamlessly into everyday life. This time, we’re asking a bit more of you, and we’re confident you can handle it!

Saving water doesn’t have to be difficult. Studies show that small changes in behavior and infrastructure can have a measurable impact on water conservation. Here are some of the most effective ways you can reduce water waste in your own home:

Actions You Can Take Right Now

These are small adjustments you can make today that will immediately start saving water.

• Fix leaks as soon as you can. A single leaky faucet can waste thousands of gallons of water per year. Even small drips add up, so checking for leaks and repairing them promptly is one of the easiest and most effective ways to conserve water.
  • If you’re having trouble drumming up the motivation to check your water fixtures for leaks, the EPA’s Fix a Leak Week is coming up in March. This occasion offers an opportunity to join a collective movement of homeowners all doing their part to reduce water wastage.
• Be mindful of running water.
  • Turn off the tap while brushing your teeth or washing your hands.
  • Use a basin to rinse dishes instead of running water continuously.
  • Only run dishwashers and washing machines with full loads.
  • Defrost food in the fridge instead of under running water.
  • Rinse produce in a bowl instead of under a running tap.
• Shorten your showers. Taking a shower that’s just two minutes shorter can save up to 150 gallons of water per month.
• Be smart about watering your lawn and garden.
  • Water in the early morning to minimize evaporation.
    • If you choose to water your lawn, do so deeply and infrequently — about one to two inches per week in one or two sessions — to encourage deep root growth and drought tolerance. Avoid frequent shallow watering, which weakens grass and increases water waste. Overwatering can lead to shallow root growth, disease, and pest problems.
  • Skip watering entirely if rain is in the forecast.
  • Adjust sprinkler settings to avoid watering sidewalks and driveways.
  • In dry periods, consider letting your lawn go dormant — it will naturally bounce back when the rain returns.
  • These principles apply to gardens, too! When watering flower beds or vegetable gardens, aim for deep, infrequent watering to help roots grow strong and resilient. Drip irrigation or soaker hoses are great alternatives to sprinklers because they deliver water directly to the soil, reducing evaporation.
• Use a broom instead of a hose. Rather than hosing down sidewalks or driveways, sweep away debris to save water.

Planning for the Future

These changes require an investment of time or money, but can significantly reduce your household’s long-term water use.

• Install water-efficient fixtures. Low-flow showerheads, faucets, and toilets can reduce household water use by at least 20%, often with no noticeable difference in performance. Many water-efficient products are affordable and easy to install.
• Upgrade to a high-efficiency washing machine or dishwasher. Modern models use far less water than older appliances. Some ENERGY STAR-certified dishwashers use only 3 gallons per load.
• Replace your lawn with native, drought-resistant plants. Traditional lawns require significant water, but native plants thrive with less irrigation.
  • Consider xeriscaping, a landscaping approach that reduces or eliminates the need for irrigation. 
• Install a rainwater collection system. A simple rain barrel can collect water for outdoor use, reducing reliance on municipal water. 
• Consider a greywater reuse system. Greywater — gently used water from sinks, showers, and laundry machines — can often be safely reused for things like flushing toilets or watering plants. 

Small Actions, Big Impact

It’s easy to assume that personal water conservation efforts don’t matter in the grand scheme of things. But they really do.

Fixing a leak, installing a water-efficient fixture, or simply being mindful of when the tap is running might feel like a drop in the bucket, but collectively, these efforts add up to millions of gallons of water saved each year.

The reality is, you have the luxury of saving water effortlessly. It doesn’t take hours of walking or tough choices between drinking and washing. The smallest changes in your daily habits can help ensure a more water-secure future for everyone.

So, what will you do today to conserve water?

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