Did you know that only 1 percent of water on our planet is readily available for drinking? That's because only 3 percent of the world's water is fresh water rather than salt water; and of that amount, icecaps and glaciers account for two thirds.

In a typical household, four people would use approximately 9,000 gallons per month or 108,000 gallons per year. That's enough water to fill a bathtub more than 2,500 times! More than half of this usage occurs in the bathroom--from toilets (24 percent), baths (9 percent) and showers (21 percent). Leaks in bathroom faucets add another 5 percent, so the total amounts to much more than just a drop in the bucket. Also, washing machines use a substantial amount of water (or 22 percent of the total).

Here are a few tips to help save water and reduce your utility bill:

INDOORS

In the bathroom

• Turn off the water while brushing your teeth, washing your face shaving and lathering in the shower.
• Dispose of waste in the trash rather than in the toilet.
• Repair leaky faucets and toilets (one drop per second wastes 2,700 gallons of water per year).
• Take a shorter shower and install a low-flow showerhead with a 2.5 gpm (gallons per minute) rating.
• Use less water for baths. Filling the tub uses about 50 gallons. Also, plug the tub before running the water and then adjust the temperature as the water fills up.

In the kitchen

• Chill a pitcher of water in the refrigerator instead of running the tap while waiting for the water to cool.
• Use the dishwasher only for full loads and set the washing machine to the appropriate load size.
• Thaw food in the refrigerator rather than using running water to thaw frozen items.
• Install water-saving aerators and flow restrictors on all faucets.
• Repair dripping faucets by replacing washers.
• Use the garbage disposal sparingly and compost vegetable food waste.
• When buying new appliances, consider energy efficient models.

OUTDOORS

• Adjust sprinklers so only the lawn, rather than the house, street or driveway, is watered.
• Install a rain sensor on your irrigation controller so the system doesn't run when it's raining.
• Check for leaks in garden hoses. An average water hose sprays about 10 gallons per minute, but a pinhole-sized leak can waste as much as 170 gallons of water per day.
• Collect water from your roof to water your garden and indoor plants.
• Report any broken water lines or errant sprinklers to the property owner.

By making these small changes to our daily activities and encouraging others to do so as well, we can protect our water supply for years to come.