Only one ten thousandth of Earth’s total water supply is fresh water on the surface, to keep billions of humans and other animals alive. Good reason to conserve it—which also saves energy and money.

Water is heavy, so it takes energy to move it. The farther it’s pumped in pipelines or carried in trucks, the more it costs the user. Water purification systems also require energy, adding to the price.

Sending more water down the drain increases the volume that must be processed to use again, increasing energy and cost.

But small changes in personal habits can save surprisingly large amounts of water.

Turning off the tap while you brush your teeth can save 4 gallons a day.

Fixing a leaky toilet saves 200 gallons a day—about the same as 100 flushes. Over 70,000 gallons a year.

Washing dishes by hand, if you leave the water running, consumes more than a dishwasher. Instead, scrape the food into the trash, fill the machine and have it do the work.

Letting the hose run while you wash the car wastes 100 gallons. Professional car washes use a third the volume and may recycle their water.

Sprinkler systems can use thousands of gallons per hour. Run them sparingly and early in the morning when temperatures are low, humidity is high, and more water gets to your plants.

All it really takes is to be aware: if the water is running and you’re not using it, turn it off!