conserving water

I love water, adore it -- oceans, lakes, rivers, ponds, streams, rain....
But we are generally water hogs, it's true -- long showers, running toilets, lawn sprinklers, dripping sinks -- wasted water practically defines us.

With the rate at which we run through water, it only makes sense to list out a few simple ideas to save it:

• Place a dam in your toilet tank to reduce the fill and the flush; a couple of water bottles or a bag of rocks in your tank will displace the water just as well.
• Water your garden or your lawn before sunup and after sundown, reducing the evaporation into the air -- and only water when you need to.
• Don't leave your faucet running while brushing your teeth.
• Limit shower time -- if you shave in the shower, turn the water off while you lather up and shave; turn it back on to rinse.
• When letting water run to get hot, capture the water in a pitcher or a watering can and use it for plants or drinking water.
• Adjust the load size on your washing machine.
• Only run a full dishwasher.
• When handwashing dishes, don't let the water run between rinsings.
• Drop leftover or dirty ice on a plant instead of in the sink.

Need more water conservation tips? Here are 100!