Water conservation at home serves many purposes. By using water wisely, you can save money on your water bill and lessen the environmental impact of wasting water. According to Energy Star, the environmental impact of inefficient use of water not only has an effect on water sources, but also causes pollution due to increased need for treating, pumping and heating water.

Bathing, brushing your teeth and shaving all use a considerable amount of water. When bathing, consider taking a shower instead of taking a bath to conserve water. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA, an average bath uses approximately 70 gallons of water, while a shower only uses approximately 25 gallons of water. You can further reduce the amount of water used when showering by taking shorter showers.

When brushing your teeth or shaving, turn off the tap when not rinsing the brush or the razor to conserve water.

You should use a dishwasher whenever possible instead of washing the dishes in the sink, if you own a dishwasher. Only run the dishwasher when it is full, and scrape plates and cookware instead of rinsing them off. If you do not own a dishwasher, turn the tap off regularly when washing the dishes to conserve water.

Adjust the water level on the washing machine according to the amount of laundry. Do not use the full water setting if the tub is less than full. Consider purchasing a new washing machine if your current machine is old. Certain washing machines use up to 50 percent less water than older machines, according to Energy Star. When purchasing a new washing machine, look for the Energy Star logo. Washing machines with the Energy Star logo have met certain criteria for saving water and electricity.

All new homes built after Jan. 1, 1994 must install low-flow toilets as part of the Energy Policy Act of 1992, according to the EPA. Low-flow toilets only use 1.6 gallons of water, compared with 3.5 to 5 gallons of water used in older toilets. Houses built before 1994 may still have the older model toilets if they haven’t been replaced. Install low-flow toilets in your home to save water.

You can increase the amount of water conservation in your toilet by placing a heavy object, such as a brick or plastic bottle filled with sand or pebbles, in the toilet’s water tank. Use caution when placing an object in the water tank so that it does not obstruct the toilet mechanism.

Water your lawn in the early morning or evening to prevent evaporation. You can adjust your lawnmower so the grass is cut taller. Taller grass provides more shade for the soil, preventing evaporation. If your home has an automatic sprinkler system installed, adjust the timer so it does not run on rainy days. Only choose bushes, flowers and other plants that do not require a significant amount of water to survive.

When washing your car, turn the hose off when you are not rinsing the car. You can save up to 150 gallons of water by turning off the hose, according to the EPA.