If you are shaving or conditioning your hair, turn off the water until you need to rinse. If you let the water run until it warms up, collect the cold water in a bucket for reuse. If you want a bath, plug the tub first instead of draining cold water. When warmer water flows, it will heat up the cold water.

If you need a dirty piece of clothing sooner, try washing it by hand. You can wash a small load of clothing in the sink, then hang it to dry.

Hoses in particular use a lot of excess water. Keep them off as much as possible and don’t rely on them for cleaning purposes.

Water from utilities is called greywater. If you plan on using it, use biodegradable cleaners as well. For example, collect the water you use while waiting for the shower to heat up. Utilize melted ice in your drinks to water plants.

You can buy a showerhead for about $40 USD. It can reduce your yearly water usage by 6,388 US gal (24,180 L) or more, which also helps you save money on your water bill![7] X Research source

Call a licensed plumber in your area if you can’t fix a leak yourself. It’s better than waiting.

Always try to limit your water usage and avoid waste. Never waste water in a school, work office, or other public bathroom. Provide urinals with dividers between them in restrooms for men and boys.

Items like phone chargers burn a little bit of energy even when they’re not in use. Unplug them to prevent this. Alternative energy sources, such as solar and wind energy, waste less water than regular electricity.

Products marked “Poison” or “Danger” are always bad for rivers. Even cleaners marked “Warning” or “Caution” have a negative impact. You should always use cleaning products near a drain. Avoid adding them directly to the water even if they are natural.

Check the labels and research products online for more information on how they are made. Recycled paper, for instance, reduces tree, water, and landfill usage. Unless you’re an ethical hunter or know someone who is, try going meatless for 1 day a week. Domestic meat production is a huge cause of water use, and it can negatively impact our rivers and other natural landmarks. Try cutting meat, pork, and chicken out of your diet, even if you only do so for 1 day a week. [10] X Research source {“smallUrl”:“https://www. wikihow. com/images/thumb/2/20/Help-Save-the-Rivers-Step-11. jpg/v4-460px-Help-Save-the-Rivers-Step-11. jpg”,“bigUrl”:"/images/thumb/2/20/Help-Save-the-Rivers-Step-11. jpg/aid9768661-v4-728px-Help-Save-the-Rivers-Step-11. jpg",“smallWidth”:460,“smallHeight”:345,“bigWidth”:728,“bigHeight”:546,“licensing”:"<div class="mw-parser-output">

License: <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="https://creativecommons. org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3. 0/">Creative Commons</a>
\n</p>

<br />\n</p></div>"} 1 lb (0. 45 kg) of beef takes about 1,799 US gal (6,810 L) to make. [11] X Research source Once you feel comfortable going meatless for 1 day a week, try expanding that to 2 or 3 days per week for an even bigger positive impact.

Dairy and almond milk aren’t the best replacement, since animals and almonds use a lot of water. Try a natural soy milk instead.

Pesticides harm plants and animals as well, so use them with caution.

Also avoid washing camping gear in a river. Take it home with you so nothing washes into the water. Avoid going to the bathroom near a river. This counts as pollution too. While it is sometimes more practical for men and boys to pee outside when camping, this should not be done within 200 feet of a flowing water source.

Volunteer groups may have alternative ways to get involved as well, such as helping out at their offices.

Many groups also offer annual memberships. With a small donation, you can get perks like a newsletter subscription and a merchandise discount. A few examples of national and international river groups include American Rivers and International Rivers.

For example, dead fish or trash near the river are some signs of pollution. Avoid handling animals or dangerous waste like needles unless you are trained by a conservation group.

Try doing some river-related activities like swimming or kayaking.

For example, post about any volunteer work you do. Repost stories from conservation groups to spread the word.

For instance, you can say, “Did you know a bottle of water takes 15 lb (6. 8 kg) of water to make? Would you please consider using a refillable water bottle in the future?”[18] X Research source