When you think of high water demand fixtures in the home, the dishwasher, clothes washer or hose in the yard probably comes to mind. But lurking there in the hallway is one of the biggest uses of water in any dwelling, the bathroom. With the sink, the toilet and the shower, it's the combined frequency of using these fixtures multiple times throughout the day that sends ample water down the drain while escaping our notice. Let the water fall through the cracks no more. By employing simple water saving strategies in conjunction with restricting the amount of water barreling out the end of the faucet using low-flow faucets and aerators, the bathroom can be just as green as your brand new, front-loading Energy Star clothes washer.

The Bathroom Sink
1. According to the Honolulu Board of Water Supply, faucets manufactured after 1984 must meet minimum water-saving flow rates. You can increase your bathroom sink's water savings by installing a faucet aerator. Faucet aerators add air to the stream of water, reducing the amount of water used with each turn of the handle. Look for an aerator with a flow of 1.5 gallons per minute or less for maximum water savings. Simply screw the aerator into the end of the faucet, which should already be threaded.

The Shower
2. Saving water in the shower is as easy as using a low-flow showerhead fixture, one that delivers about 2.5 gallons per minute. Wind the threaded pipe with Teflon tape to avoid any leaks. Screw on a low-flow or aerating showerhead. Tighten by hand.

The Toilet
3. Remove the toilet tank lid and locate a sufficient area to place a water bottle where it won't hinder the mechanics of the toilet.

4. Fill up a 1 liter bottle (or other similar sized vessel) with water.

5. Place it in the tank.

6. Flush the toilet to make sure all moving parts are working properly. Replace the tank lid. The vessel that you've placed in the tank displaces its volume of water, so you actually use less water with every flush.

Saving water starts by changing your bathroom habits
- Turn off the water while brushing your teeth.
- Don't waste water using your toilet as a trashcan. Avoid flushing tissue paper and other bathroom trash down the toilet.
- Take shorter showers. Every minute saves gallons. There are even shower heads available that allow you to quickly turn off the flow of water while you soap up.