Humans require about 3/4 gallon of water daily just to live. Including water usage for sanitation, you should plan on each person in your household using a gallon of water per day. Keep this figure in mind when stocking or gathering water. [1] X Research source Also bear in mind that certain people will require more water than others. Usually children, nursing mothers, and people with chronic illnesses need more than a gallon a day. If you have any of these particular cases in your household, plan accordingly and stock more water. [2] X Research source Also keep some extra water stocked in case of a medical emergency. If someone gets sick or injured, they’ll need to drink more to stay hydrated. You also will need the water to clean any wounds. [3] X Research source Make sure everyone in your house knows the limits on water usage in the event of a drought. If a situation gets dire and drinking water is getting scarce, don’t ration to the point of dehydration. Lost hikers have been found dying of dehydration when they still had water left because they were trying to conserve. Drink what you need to stay alive.
Get a large drum (55 gallons is usually standard) from a hardware store. Get several if you plan on storing the water. Place the drum under a downspout gutter and run the gutter into the drum. If you don’t have gutters on your house, place the drum under a section of your roof where water usually runs off. Rainwater must be thoroughly filtered before drinking. You should generally only drink it in an emergency situation after boiling for three minutes. [6] X Trustworthy Source Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services Go to source
Check the faucets in your kitchen and bathrooms. Also look at the handles of faucets, since water can escape here as well. [7] X Research source Check your toilet to make sure no water is escaping from the back of the tank into the bowl. Add food coloring to the tank. Don’t flush and check back in 30 minutes. If there is color in the bowl, you have a leaky seal in the tank and should get it repaired. [8] X Research source Take a reading of your water meter. Then wait 30 minutes without using any water and check it again. If there is any difference, you have a leak somewhere. If you can’t locate it, call a plumber to investigate. [9] X Research source
You can get a low-flow shower head to save water while you shower. Install a low-volume toilet to avoid wasting water while flushing. [11] X Research source
Think about when you run the shower or faucet and wait for the water to warm up. This can take several seconds to a minute, during which time water is running down the drain. Place a bucket in the sink or shower when you do this, then use that water for plants so you don’t have to use the hose.
Some localities, particularly in dry places, have laws about when you can water your lawn and for how long. If droughts are expected, governments may ban watering altogether. Check with your water company or county government to ensure that watering is permitted in your area before watering your lawn.
Local governments often advertise meetings of this sort. Check local newspapers or your local government’s website for notice of meetings. If you can’t find any meetings advertised, try calling your town or city hall and asking if any upcoming meetings will discuss water policy. It’s possible your local government doesn’t discuss such issues. In this case, you can form a committee of citizens to petition the government to take action on water conservation. Read Be a Community Organizer for ideas on how to organize fellow citizens.
