Ever since you were a kid, you have probably heard about the importance of saving water. It can be easy to forget about this, especially when water is easily accessible from a faucet.

However, saving water is more important now than ever. As sources of fresh water decline around the world, the cost of water utilities has started to increase. This trend has shown no signs of slowing down, either.

Save Water Even With a Pool

A pool obviously uses gallons of water. Yet even if you are worried about wasting water, you should still obtain inground pool financing and get that pool installed in your backyard. That is because there are plenty of other ways you can save water inside your home.

1. Choose Smart Sprinklers and Irrigation Strategies

Your sprinkler should not run more than necessary. Look for “smart” sprinklers that automatically adjust to the weather conditions.

You should adjust your sprinkler system in other ways, as well. Make sure it is only watering the areas that need hydration.

Evaporation can force you to use additional water. To prevent this phenomenon, try watering your lawn early in the morning when the temperatures are cooler.

You may even want to avoid a sprinkler/irrigation system entirely. By planting drought-resistant grass, you will save water while still having a pretty lawn.

2. Use a Shower Timer

While a warm shower is incredibly relaxing, it is also incredibly wasteful. Just a 10-minute shower uses 20 gallons of fresh water. A 30- or 40-minute shower can thus require 60 to 80 gallons of water.

You should thus limit how many long showers you and your family members take. You can easily do this by installing a shower timer. The timer will alert you when a shower is lasting for an extended period. You can even connect the timer to your plumbing system so it automatically shuts off when the shower is left running for a certain number of minutes.

3. Choose Water-Efficient Appliances

The toilet is another appliance that requires a lot of water. The average person flushes 18 to 24 gallons of water per day. Just one flush uses three to five gallons of water.

That is why many companies are now creating water-efficient toilets. These appliances only utilize one to two gallons during each flush. One of these toilets thus reduces indoor water use by around 30 percent. If you put a water-efficient toilet in every bathroom of your home, the savings should be immense.

Similarly, you should look for dishwashers with water-efficiency features such as improved dish rack designs and better filtration. You may think that washing dishes by hand saves water. Yet a typical automatic dishwasher can save thousands of gallons of water over its lifetime.

4. Install an Instant Hot Water System

A typical plumbing system takes a few minutes to warm water. However, an instant hot water system, or a hot water recirculator, supplies hot water instantly. This way, you can step right into a hot shower instead of leaving the water running for several minutes. Over time, this could save you hundreds of gallons of water.

5. Use Rainwater Harvesting

There are several ways to collect rainwater for reuse. This is particularly valuable in areas that get a lot of rain. Just set up some barrels in your yard and wait for them to fill. While this rainwater is not safe for drinking or cooking, you can use it in your garden or when washing your car.

While a backyard pool requires a lot of water, you should not let this stop you from purchasing one as your home gets built. Instead, follow the above steps to limit how much water the rest of your house uses.