(NAPS) — Here’s a statistic you may not want to raise a glass to: The average American uses 100 gallons of water each day (enough to fill 1,600 drinking glasses), according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Meanwhile, the U.S. government has projected that more than 70 percent of the country - at least 36 states - will face water shortages by the year 2012 due to a combination of rising temperatures, drought, population growth, urban sprawl, waste and excess.

Managing water is a growing concern in the United States and around the world. The good news is that there is much we can do to preserve and protect this precious, limited resource - starting at home. Following are eight easy ways you can help make every drop count:

1. “Flush” old toilets. Older toilets can use as much as seven gallons of water per flush. New toilets are not only designed to use less water, they are required by law to use less water. Replacing your toilet will save water by lowering each flush to 1.6 gpf (gallons per flush) or less.

2. Cut it short. Shortening your showers by even one or two minutes can save up to 600 gallons each month. If you prefer baths, reduce the water level an inch or two and you will save five to 10 gallons each time.

3. Turn it off. When brushing teeth or washing your hands or face, turn the water off when it’s not being used.

4. Plug it. When shaving, plug the drain and fill the sink only enough to rinse your razor. This will achieve a huge savings compared to allowing the water to run.

5. Go (low) with the flow. Older showerheads can flow as much as 3.2 gallons of water per minute or more, much of it wasted. And while today’s showers are restricted to a flow rate of 2.5 gallons per minute (gpm), there are new “low-flow” models that deliver even fewer gallons per minute, resulting in significant water savings. Kitchen and bath faucets are also available in low-flow versions.

Beyond the bathroom.
6. Load up. Run the washing machine and dishwasher only with full loads. Older machines can use as much as 25 to 60 gallons per run. Most newer washing machines have water level settings that, when used appropriately, save 300 to 600 gallons per month. If you do dishes by hand, use one sink for wash water and one for rinse water. If you have one sink, use it for wash water and place washed dishes on a rack and rinse together with a spray device.

7. Go “green” when cleaning greens. Use the sink or a bowl of water to clean vegetables instead of letting the water run. After cleaning, a brief rinse is all you need.

8. Bottle it up. Keep a bottle of tap water in your refrigerator rather than running the faucet until the water is cool.

More good news: Saving water will also save you money. For more tips on how to be water wise at home, visit www.epa.gov/ watersense.

Use the sink or a bowl of water to clean vegetables instead of letting the water run. After cleaning, a brief rinse is all you need.

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