In the Kitchen:
Automatic dishwashers use 12 – 25 gallons of water each cycle. Wash only full dishwashers and avoid using the rinse only cycle.
Adding a ¼ – ½ cup of water to your wash water will cut down the grease faster and better than hot water alone.
Check all faucets and pipes for leaks. Repair dripping faucets. Even a slow drip can waste up to 15 gallons of water a day. Eliminate drips by replacing worn washers, O-rings, packing, and faulty fixtures.
Defrost food in the refrigerator.
Don’t run water when peeling vegetables; rinse them afterwards
In the Bathroom:
Turn off the water while brushing your teeth or shaving.
Reduce the amount of time in the shower and do not turn the water on until you are ready to step in.
Install water-saving shower heads.
Check your toilets for leaks – put a few drops of food coloring in the tank, if the bowl water shows color without flushing there is a leak and repairs are needed.
Replace old toilets with new low-flush or dual-flush toilets. The EPA website has a calculator you can use to help estimate how much money and water you can save each year by switching to a more efficient toilet. Try it out: https://www.epa.gov/watersense/watersense-calculator
Around the House:
Keep a bottle of water in the refrigerator to have cool water on hand.
Wash full loads of clothes.
Check your water softener to be sure it is not leaking or cycling more than it should be. Water waste can occur by either cycling the softener too often or off-schedule.
Outside the Home:
When watering do it in the early morning or the evening when the sun has gone down as the sun evaporates water.
Set your underground sprinklers to not water when it is raining.
Be sure outside faucets are turned off after use.
Longer grass reduces evaporation, try setting your mower blade one notch higher.
Use pool cover to reduce evaporation.
Use a broom rather than a hose to clean walkways and driveways.
Additional Resources:
http://www.mrwa.com/waterconservation.html
https://www.pca.state.mn.us/living-green/conserving-water
http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/waters/watermgmt_section/appropriations/conservation.html