At small expense, there are some ways to save water that do not take too much effort.

• In the home, check for leaks by taking a water meter reading before and after a two hour interval. If the reading is not exactly the same, there is a leak. Check your faucets, the pipes under the sink, showerheads, and toilets.
  
  
• For toilet tanks, add food coloring into the water and wait 30 minutes. If there is a leak, it will appear within that time. Flush after doing this test, as food coloring may stain the toilet tank.
  
  
• Avoid disposing of insects, tissues, hair, and other rubbish by flushing them down the toilet. Use a trash bin instead.
  
  
• Do not let the water run while rinsing dishes, showering, brushing teeth, or shaving.
  
  
• Insulate your water pipes, especially those that run through heaters, so that your water heats faster and you do not need the tap to run for it to do so.
  
  
• Mend leaking taps as quickly as possible. Make sure everyone in the home knows where the stopcock is and how to turn it off.
  
  
• Use dishwashers and washing machines only if they have full loads. Half loads are generally neither water nor energy efficient.
  
  
• Wash small amounts of clothes and dishes by hand.
  
  
• Use gray water, which can be collected from your washing machine’s rinse cycle, the kitchen sink after washing the dishes, to flush the toilet. Avoid using this water on potted plants, as it will lead to unpleasant smells and the detergent levels will build up in the pot. Avoid keeping gray water for more than 24 hours, as it will start to smell.
  
  
• Use a bucket-and-sponge to wash the car, instead of watering it with the hose.
  
  
• When watering gardens, do so early in the morning, as this reduces loss from evaporation. If a hose is to be used, fix it with a trigger, and do not leave it running when not in use: the continual pressure may cause a leak.
  
  
• If you have a swimming pool, use a pool cover when not using it; create a windbreak of plants, shrubs, or wall. This will keep water loss from evaporation to a minimum.
  
  
• Choose a water-efficient washing machine and dishwasher. It will be cheaper in the long run.

• When choosing a toilet, choose a slimline toilet, as it uses less water than a regular toilet. Also opt for dual flush.
  
  
• Investing in water saving devices is the alternative:
  • Fittings into existing taps to allow dual flow
  • Fittings onto existing taps to aerate the water output
  • Fittings onto existing taps to aerate and reduce water output while maintaining the rate and moving volume, saving both water and electricity used in water heating because of lower volume.
    
    
• Rain water is free and ready for harvest; the only prohibitive factors are the cost, and the prerequisite for the building to be a landed property. In addition, home owners looking to install these systems must also consult the Singapore Land Authority for permission to proceed.