Freshwater Conservation: Drip by Drip

Join Our Community of Science Lovers!

On supporting science journalism

If you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.

Doing small things consistently over time—if enough people participate—can make a dent, even in a global problem. Here are a few suggestions:

Check your sinks, indoor and outdoor faucets, pipes, toilets, even your meter for leaks.
Run your high-efficiency (Energy Star) washing machine or dishwasher for full loads only.
Purchase a front-loading washing machine—it uses significantly less water than a top-loading machine—and purchase a dryer with a moisture sensor.
Install a dual-flush toilet (which uses less water for liquid waste) or a low-flow unit as well as a gray-water recycling system.
Use a low-flow showerhead and capture bathwater to water plants. And take shorter showers.
Water your lawn in the early morning or at night to avoid losses from evaporation and use mulch to trap moisture.
Consider installing a rain barrel for capturing storm water and using it to water the garden.
Wash fruits and vegetables in a bowl of water rather than under a running faucet.
Start a compost pile rather than using an in-sink garbage disposal unit.
Use the refrigerator or microwave rather than hot water to thaw frozen food.
Instead of washing your car by hand, go to a professional car wash.

It’s Time to Stand Up for Science

If you enjoyed this article, I’d like to ask for your support. Scientific American has served as an advocate for science and industry for 180 years, and right now may be the most critical moment in that two-century history.

I’ve been a Scientific American subscriber since I was 12 years old, and it helped shape the way I look at the world. SciAm always educates and delights me, and inspires a sense of awe for our vast, beautiful universe. I hope it does that for you, too.

If you subscribe to Scientific American, you help ensure that our coverage is centered on meaningful research and discovery; that we have the resources to report on the decisions that threaten labs across the U.S.; and that we support both budding and working scientists at a time when the value of science itself too often goes unrecognized.

In return, you get essential news, captivating podcasts, brilliant infographics, can't-miss newsletters, must-watch videos, challenging games, and the science world's best writing and reporting. You can even gift someone a subscription.

There has never been a more important time for us to stand up and show why science matters. I hope you’ll support us in that mission.

Thank you,

David M. Ewalt, Editor in Chief, Scientific American