It is not enough that you are aware of water being a very important resource. You should also be aware that it is a very scarce resource. In some countries, women walk tens of kilometers to fetch clean water. Before you soak on that bath or let another dripping faucet off the hook, know that when you conserve water, you not only add up to your savings, but your water conservation efforts constitute your social responsibility, too.

Here are a number of tips on how you can conserve water, save to fatten your wallet, and also help others get their fair share of this precious resource.

1. Repair leaking faucets and bathroom fixtures. That faucet or cistern drip adds up to gallons of water wasted and water bills being bloated. A wrench and some sealer may be sometimes all it takes for you to do your share of water conservation.

2. Learn a few water-saving tricks like putting a brick inside the cistern so that instead of 7 gallons being flushed down the drain, you are down to 5 or 6 gallons. Don’t flush trash in the bowl; not only do you waste clean water but you run the risk of your toilet being clogged, too. Turn off the shower while you are lathering; you save on water and you save on the shower gel. Don’t let the faucet run when your brushing your teeth; fill a glass with water and proceed to brush. Your dishwasher drinks up dozens of gallons of water so optimize each run by having all your dishes done one-time. Same holds true for your washing machine: wash at the machine’s optimum load, not a few hankies and undies at a time.

3. Don’t flood your lawn with the automatic sprinkler; make sure the grass just gets the required amount of watering and turn off that sprinkler on time. Your garage or driveway may be awash with oil spills but before washing them off, sprinkle sawdust or sand first so that don’t use that much water washing those spills off. The patio and the gazebo are dusty and strewn with dry leaves? Of course you can wash the dirt away but if a broom and pan will do, why waste that precious water?

4. The exterior walls of the house and the fences are in need of a wash-over but you can time it during the next rain-shower so that you don’t use as much water as when you do clean during a hot sunny day. The glass windows can maybe use just a damp cloth and old newspaper to have that sparklingly clean look instead of pouring water on them.

5. Teach your kids and other house mates to be responsible in their use of water. Turning off the faucet or the shower to its tightest takes just a little effort and ensures there are no precious drips. Don’t let the tub overrun; they can soak and yet be responsible at the same time.

Follow these simple water conservation tips to help the environment and your wallet at the same time.