Aja * My* Ajax

Very easy ways to save water you might not have thought of...
Yes, the often-mentioned ways to save water apply here, such as using water-saving faucets... or only running the clothes washer with a full load... but there are other cheap and simple ways you might not have thought of to save water:
1. Turn the water pressure down under your sinks... Look under your kitchen and bathroom sinks for the valve that controls the water flow and try to turn it clock-wise a few turns to reduce the water flow. Do not force it. Old valves may be corroded and not turn, so call a plumber if necessary, or if the valve starts to drip. Do not do this for toilets, water heaters, and other storage tanks. Those always fill to a set level. 2. Instead of drinking bottled water, try a filter on your kitchen faucet. Surprisingly, many don't realize their own tap water is often nearly as pure as bottled water. All you need to get it 'close' is to install a simple screw-on water filter to your kitchen faucet. Look for them at your nearby larger grocery or hardware store. 3. Don't run the water while doing simple bathroom or other basic chores. Such as brushing your teeth, wiping down the counters, etc. Takes a little discipline, but if you need proof on how much water this wastes just put a bucket in the sink to collect any 'unused' water. You might be surprised. Even showering wastes plenty of water this way, but not all of us want to turn off the faucet while lathering up. But think about it anyway. 4. Adjust the water level in your toilet tank... The valve that controls the refill of fresh water into your toilet tank after each flush usually has an adjustment that will allow you to reduce the tank's fill level. Set it a bit lower and less water will fill your toilet tank before the flow stops which means less water (and money) will go down the drain also. 5. Collect rain water for plants on a patio, roof, or deck... Any bucket will work, but add a mesh screen cover perhaps with a tied-down tarp to increase the surface area to collect more rain water. Try a funnel design. To reduce contamination suggest filtering all rain water again before use. And take care to secure the tarp well if you live in a high-rise or windy area. Also remember this is only for plants and not safe for humans, pets, etc. And don't forget to check all around for constant leaks and drips, too. Outside hoses, faucets, and sprinklers can have slow but constant leaks.
Hope this helps you save a little money every month. It will add up!