I will take quick showers of five minutes or less using a low-flow shower head.

• A five-minute shower with an ordinary shower head uses 100 litres of water but less than 50 litres with a low-flow shower head.

I will wash my car by filling a bucket with water and using a sponge.

• Doing this will save about 300 litres of water.

I will repair leaking taps.

• A leak of one drop of water per second represents an annual waste of about 10,000 litres. Most leaks are easy to spot and repair for a minimal cost.

I will fill my bath tub only one-quarter full.

• Filling my bath tub completely uses 60 litres of water.

I will quickly repair toilets that continue to flow after flushing.

• If the leak is substantial, my toilet could waste up to 200,000 litres of water in one year.

I will limit my consumption of bottled water.

• In many countries, tap water is of excellent quality, and it is not necessary to drink bottled water. By drinking tap water, you will save the environment from plastic bottles.

In the garden, I will adapt my sprinklers to the size and shape of my lawn to make sure that I do not water my driveway and the sidewalk. Also, I will collect rainwater in a rain barrel for watering.

• During the growing season, water consumption can rise by 50%. Lawns need watering, but much of the water is wasted because of excess watering and evaporation.

I will turn the tap off while brushing my teeth.

• Each time, I will save 10 litres of water by doing so.

I will share these simple tips with those around me.

• Adding my efforts to those of people around me will substantially reduce water wastage.