There’s no denying there are parts of our country with a water shortage. You can help conserve our limited water supply. By making a few simple changes in the way that you use water, you can save thousands of gallons of water each year! Read these tips to find out some ways to save water in your apartment.

1) Wash your car yourself. A lot of apartment communities have car washing stations, making it easy to give your car a good scrub. Whether you have one at your apartment or not, use a bucket while soaping up your car and leave the hose only for rinsing. This is better for the water supply than taking your car to the car wash as you’ll use a lot less water.

2) Run the dishwasher only when full. This is the most water-efficient and energy-efficient way to use your dishwasher. Also, use the light wash or water saver cycle when available.

3) Report all water leaks. Sometimes we just live with leaks and drips, but it’s important to always report these for repair. At Camden, submitting a maintenance request online is quick and easy.

4) Take shorter showers. You use about five gallons of water per minute during a shower. Limit your shower time to 7 minutes to use less. If you prefer baths, lower your tub’s water level a couple of inches.

5) Don’t run the tap water to change its temperature. Instead of running the tap to get it cold, use refrigerated bottles of water or a water filter. Same thing with hot water; rather than run it to get it hot, heat it up on the stove.

6) Wash dishes by hand. Use a stopper and fill the sink to wash your dishes by hand and save water. Don’t let the water run though when washing or rinsing. This will only waste more water.

7) Don’t run the water while shaving and brushing your teeth. You’ll conserve up to 10 gallons of water by doing this alone. Simply turn off the tap while you brush or fill the sink while you shave. Ladies, that means you too; stopper the water at the end of your shower and use the collected water to shave your legs.

8) Wash only full loads of clothes. If possible, adjust the water level in the washer to the size of the load and use the eco-friendly cycle if your washer has one.

Just by taking these simple steps you can make an impact on the environment. You might even save some energy in your apartment or some cash from your water bill!

Looking for more ways to cut waste and save some money? Check out these food storage tips!