Bathing & Showering: Which uses more water, a shower or a tub bath? That depends! A partially filled tub uses less water than a long shower, but a short shower with a low flow showerhead uses much less than a brimful tub! You can compare for yourself. Try plugging the tub while you shower and see how high the water gets. Make a habit of showering quickly or using a partially filled tub. Or try the "navy shower." Turn on the water to get wet, turn it off to soap up, and turn it back on to rinse off. It's a great conservation technique, especially in drought emergencies.

House Plants & Fish Tanks: If you have a fish tank, you probably clean it regularly. Use the dirty water to water your house plants. It saves using the same water twice, and the plants love the water, which is rich in nitrogen and phosphorous!

Washing Smart: Some washing machines use 40 or more gallons whether you're washing a full load, or only a few pairs of socks. Use full washloads, especially for older machines. If your machine is adjustable, use the proper setting. You'll save electricity as well as water.

Food Prep: If you like to rinse off vegetables and fruits, stopper the sink instead of using running water. And when you're finished, turn on the garbage disposal as you pull the plug, rather than running water just for the disposal.

Doing Dishes: Which is more efficient, washing dishes in the sink or in a dishwasher? You can check by testing how much water your full sink basin holds compared with the 9.5 to 12 gallons dishwashers use during a regular cycle. Either way, it is more water efficient to wash full loads. If you do wash dishes by hand, stopper the sink and run the disposal as you pull the plug.

Washing the Car: Do you wash your car at home? Use a bucket, or a hose with a trigger nozzle to avoid wasting water. Wet the car thoroughly, and then turn off the hose while you wash the car! Swab the car with soapy water from a bucket. You can use the hose again for a final rinse. Better still, take your car to a car wash. Most of the car washes on Maui are fitted with recirculating water.

For a Cold Glass of Water: Keep a pitcher of cool water in the refrigerator. Running the water until it turns cool can waste a gallon for each glass. Letting the water sit in the fridge can also allow any chlorine to dissipate, and improve the taste.

Don't Use the Toilet for Trash: Some people toss and flush away tissues, cigarettes or bits of trash in the toilet. Use a wastebasket instead. If everyone in the U.S. flushed just once less per day, we could save a sea full of water a mile wide, a mile long, and four feet deep, every day!

Showerheads: Replacing your old showerhead with a low flow can save as much as 7.2 gallons per person per day. You can get showerheads and other low flow fixtures from the Maui County Board of Water Supply (270-7199), or the Public Works Department (270-7417).

Toilets: Installing a new water conserving toilet can save as much as 17 gallons per person per day. Even a low cost installing a toilet flapper can save more than 5 gallons per person per day.

Faucets: Replacing your old faucets with more efficient models can save 4 gallons per person per day. Faucet aerators or spray taps can also help, by mixing air with water. This cuts the flow and reduces splashing, while leaving enough pressure to cut the soap and grease.

Washing Machines: A water-efficient washing machine can save up to 20 gallons per load. With the average household washing 6 loads per week, that's a lot of water! In fact, within 2 years, these can save as much water as the average person drinks in a lifetime! And that's not all. Statistics on energy savings potential indicate that highly efficient washing machines save from 35% to 65% on energy used for washing!

Check For Leaks: Leaking faucets cost you money! Even a slow drip wastes 15 gallons per day. A 1/8" stream can waste 400 gallons per day! Think about it. A single dripping faucet can waste more water in one day than a person needs for drinking for an entire week! Unfortunately, the average non-conserving home looses more than 10% of the water it pays for to leaks! Check for leaks regularly. Try putting 10 drops of food coloring in your toilet tank. Don't flush, just wait 15 minutes. If colored water shows up in the bowl, your tank is leaking. Check your water meter while no water is running in your house. If the meter is registering, you have a leak somewhere.

After toilets, most indoor leaks are caused by worn washers in faucets. Check your faucets twice a year. If any drip after you've turned them off firmly, turn off the supply line, take the faucet apart, and replace the washer. And don't forget the faucets on the side of the house.

A Clean Sweep: Did you know that 5 minutes of unnecessary hosing will waste 25 gallons of water? Try sweeping sidewalks and driveways. This will get them clean without wasting water.

Pipes Break - Be Prepared: Do you know where your master shut-off valve is located? If a pipe breaks in your home, you could experience flooding and property damage as well as huge water waste unless you quickly shut your valve. Locate your valve and mark it for quick, easy identification. Learn how to shut it properly, and teach your family to do so as well.

Cover Pools and Jacuzzis: They're fun, but they can waste a lot of water! An average sized pool loses about 1,000 gallons of water per month to evaporation. A pool cover can cut these losses by 90%!