Clean, safe water is a necessity that many parts of the world lack. 1.1 billion people do not have access to clean water and 2.7 billion experience water scarcity at least one month a year. Drought-affected areas are not only on the other side of the world. California is finally emerging from a 5-year drought, the worst in 500 years. As we commemorate Earth Month by exploring ways to live more sustainably, let’s take a look at what we can do to reduce the water we waste.

Here are 7 ways to reduce the water you use.

1. Replace your shower heads with water-efficient models.
2. Switch to the use of water-efficient lawn and landscaping sprinklers. Plant drought-tolerant grass or ground-cover that requires minimal watering. Consider gathering and reusing rain water.
3. Turn off the tap when brushing your teeth.
4. Do not wash clothes or dishes unless you have a full load.
5. Select water-efficient bathroom fixtures such as those recommended by the WaterSense program. (http://www.epa.gov/watersense/).
6. Consider upgrading your toilets. Old toilets are by far the main source of water use in the home. They can consume as much as 6 gallons of water per flush. By contrast, water-efficient toilets use 1.28 gallons per flush or less, while still providing equal or superior performance.
7. If you’ve been buying bottled drinking water, think twice. Almost half of the 50 billion bottles of water currently consumed in the U.S. actually comes from municipal supplies. Transporting the bottles and keeping them cold, and then collecting and processing them for recycling also burns fossil fuels. If you’re worried about the quality of your tap water, have it tested. Also consider installing a water filter and use refillable containers.

Less water going down the drain means more water available in our lakes, rivers and streams. Adopt these easy changes to live a more sustainable life.