The Task: Buy recycled-paper products.
Why It's Worth It: Products made from 100 percent recycled paper require much less water in their manufacturing than do those made from virgin paper. If your family goes through four rolls of paper towels a week, choosing recycled reduces waste significantly.
Your One-Year Effect: 637 gallons of water saved.
The Effect If Every Household in the U.S. Did It for One Year: More than the amount of water that cascades over Niagara Falls in a day.

The Task: Install a low-flow showerhead.
Why It's Worth It: Low-flow showerheads cut water use in half. If you take a five-minute shower using this type of showerhead, the showerhead would save enough water in a year to fill a 15-foot aboveground pool. Plus, you save all the energy that would have gone into heating the shower water.
Your One-Year Effect: 4,550 gallons of water saved.
The Effect If Everyone in the U.S. Did It for One Year: Enough water to fill about 2,100 Giants Stadiums.

The Task: Use a lower setting on your dishwasher.
Why It's Worth It: Contrary to popular belief, it’s almost never necessary to use the normal setting on a dishwasher or to rinse plates beforehand. The light-wash setting cleans just as well while reducing water use up to 55 percent.
Your One-Year Effect: 2,860 gallons of water saved.
The Effect If Every Household in the U.S. Did It for One Year: Equal to the amount of water that would cover Rhode Island by a foot.