How to Save Up to $3,000 a Year

The Leak: Letting the Water Run

The fix: Turn off the tap while you're brushing your teeth or shaving―every minute the water flows wastes up to 2½ gallons, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Run full loads in washing machines and dishwashers. Water plants in the early morning to ensure that the water goes into the ground instead of evaporating. And use a bucket to wash the car, hosing it off for a quick rinse, to save 90 gallons of water per wash. For more conservation tips, go to the California Urban Water Conservation Council site, at h2ouse.org.
Savings: $189 a year, or nearly 40 percent off the average U.S. household's annual water bill of $476, according to a 2003 study prepared for the National Rural Water Association.