A faucet that leaks just one drop of water per second can waste more than 2,000 gallons of water per year. A leaking toilet can waste 100 gallons a day. An average shower uses 11 gallons of water.

Americans use more than 350 million gallons of water each day; much of that water is wasted due to carelessness, according to the International Arid Lands Consortium. The consortium offers these simple tips to conserve water:

Indoors

•Turn faucets off when not using them; for example, do not leave the water running when washing dishes by hand or brushing teeth.

•Repair any leaking faucets, pipes, and toilets.

•Defrost frozen food in the refrigerator or microwave instead of running hot water over it.

•Dispose of toxic chemicals properly; do not pour them down the drain.

•Install water saving fixtures such as ultra low consumption toilets, and efficient faucets and showerheads.

•Do not throw trash into the toilet, as it will result in unnecessary and wasteful toilet flushing; instead, dispose of trash in the proper containers.

•Take a quick shower rather than a bath, and save an average of 20 gallons of water.

•Clean vegetables in a sink or pan partially filled with water, rather than running water from the tap.

•Re-use the water that vegetables are washed in for watering houseplants or for cleaning.

•Insulate water pipes; it'll make the water hotter faster and avoid the waste that comes when heating water.

•Instead of waiting for tap water to get cold enough for drinking, keep a bottle of water in the refrigerator.

•Whenever possible, compost food scraps or dispose of them in the garbage rather than using the garbage disposal, which requires a high level of water for operation.

•Only run the dishwasher when it is full to make the best use of water, energy, and detergent.

•Cut down on the amount of rinsing before loading the dishwasher. Most modern dishwashers do an excellent job of cleaning dishes, pots, and pans.

•Wait until you have a full load of laundry before running the machine to save both water and energy. If you can't wait for a full load, use the right water level to match the size of the load.

•When washing clothes by hand, the water should not be left running. Fill a laundry tub with water, and reuse wash and rinse water as much as possible. Likewise with the dishes.

Outdoors

•Water the lawn early in the morning or at night to avoid excess evaporation. Similarly, do not water the lawn on windy days, to help avoid excess evaporation.

•Don't follow a fixed watering schedule. Water when the grass or plants show signs of needing it. Over-watering is bad for plants and lawns. It promotes shallow root growth, making the lawn less hardy. To determine if the lawn needs to be watered, simply walk across the grass. If you leave footprints, it's time to water.

•Use a broom rather than a hose to clean sidewalks or driveways.

•Do not leave sprinklers or hoses on unattended; it can result in leaks and over-watering.

•Maintain a lawn height of 2.5 to 3 inches to help protect the roots from heat stress and reduce the loss of moisture to evaporation. Allowing the grass to grow slightly taller reduces water loss by providing more ground shade for the roots and by promoting water retention.