The average U.S. household spends $500 per year on water and sewer bills. A family of four uses about 400 gallons of water per day. By making a few simple changes that conserve water, you can save this natural resource and shave about 34 percent off your costs.

Saving water also saves energy. In California, 6.5 percent of the energy used in the state is for pumping and treating water -- in fact, pumping water south (and uphill) in the State Water Project accounts for 2-3 percent of all the electricity used in the state.

At home, using less hot water saves on water heating. On the flip side, saving energy and using alternative energy saves water -- electricity production from fossil fuels and nuclear energy is responsible for 39 percent of all freshwater withdrawals in the nation.

Here a few tips to help save water:

1. Water your lawn only when it needs it. Step on your grass. If it springs back when you lift your foot, it doesn't need water. So set your sprinklers for more days in between watering; this can save 750-1,500 gallons per month. Best of all, convert your lawn to native plants and grasses, which are adapted for your climate and thus require less water.
2. Install a drip irrigation system; these use 20 to 50 percent less water than in-ground sprinkler systems.
3. Run only full loads in the washing machine and dishwasher. This saves 300 to 800 gallons per month.
4. Shorten your showers. Even a one or two minute reduction can save up to 700 gallons per month.
5. Install water-saving shower heads or flow restrictors. This saves 500 to 800 gallons per month.
6. Fix that leaky toilet! It wastes 200 gallons per day.
7. When buying new toilets and faucets, look for the EPA's WaterSense label. These products conserve water without sacrificing performance. A high-efficiency toilet can save you $1,000 over 10 years.

By saving water, you'll save money and help the environment.

Sources:

-- "Benefits of Water Efficiency," EPA's WaterSense Web site. http://www.epa.gov/watersense/water/benefits.htm

-- "Climate Change: What You Can Do at Home," EPA Web site. http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/wycd/home.html

-- "H2Ouse: Water Saver Home," California Urban Water Conservation Council. http://www.h2ouse.org/

-- "Use Your Water Sense," EPA's WaterSense Web site. http://www.epa.gov/watersense/water/simple.htm

-- "Water Conservation Tips," Mono Lake Committee, Mono Lake, California. http://www.monolake.org/socalwater/wctips.htm

-- "WaterSense: Efficiency Made Easy," EPA. http://www.epa.gov/watersense/index.htm