Water Conservation

Water is one of our most important resources, as every living thing needs water to survive. Water conservation means using less water or recycling used water so that it can be used again. This type of program is important because water conservation helps save energy, protect wild animals, and prevent people from using so much water that it cannot be replaced with rain. Water conservation also helps people and governments save money.

General Water Conservation Information

  • 100 Ways to Conserve: This resource lists 100 ways to conserve water. The list includes tips for using less water when washing dishes and doing laundry, reducing water usage when watering the lawn and rinsing produce, saving water when flushing the toilet and using the shower, and making it easier to save water by making home improvements and repairs.

  • Water Conservation Tips: The Utah Water Conservation Page offers tips for saving water indoors and outdoors. It also includes tips for using less water for landscaping and irrigating.

  • Tips and Facts on Conserving Water: National Geographic lists several facts related to water conservation and provides tips for saving water.

  • Water Conservation and Estimated Water Savings (PDF): The State of Rhode Island offers a list of conservation tips and shows how much water people can expect to save each month by using these tips.

  • Be Water Smart, Not Water Short: The State of Washington Department of Ecology explains how everyone can save water at home and at work. This resource also explains which factors affect how much water is available.

  • Water Conservation Tips From FEMA (PDF): The Federal Emergency Management Agency offers tips for saving water in the kitchen, laundry room, and bathroom. This resource also includes tips for saving water when caring for a lawn or swimming pool.

  • Water Recycling and Reuse: The United States Environmental Protection Agency explains what water recycling is and lists the benefits of recycling used water.

  • Benefits of Water Recycling: This resource lists 10 major benefits of recycling water. Some of these benefits include reduced need for plant fertilizers, reduced need for imported water, and reduced water cost.

  • How to Save Water and Money: This slideshow from “The Huffington Post” shows 21 different ways to save water. It also links water savings with cost savings.

  • Finding and Fixing Leaks: Seattle Public Utilities shows how to find and fix water leaks in the home. This can help save thousands of gallons of water and reduce energy costs.

  • How to Use and Save Water at Work: The Oregon Environmental Council explains how people can save water at work. Some of the tips include installing low-flow faucets, fixing plumbing leaks promptly, and reducing the amount of water used to care for lawns.

  • Conserve Water: Global Stewards discusses setting water conservation goals and saving water. This article also links to several other water conservation resources.

  • Earth-Kind Water Conservation (PDF): This resource explains how to develop a water conservation plan and discusses the importance of water conservation.

Teaching About Water Conservation

  • Fun Water Facts: The City of San Diego offers kid-friendly facts about water to make it easier to teach kids about water conservation.

  • Water Kids: The Water Education Foundation lists several facts about water and water use. This resource makes it easier for kids to understand water use by explaining how much water is used by common activities such as washing a car and taking a shower.

  • The Story of Drinking Water: This resource includes facts about water and water conservation in a kid-friendly format. Each page displays just a few facts using words kids understand, making it easier to learn about this important topic.

  • Down the Drain: Teachers can register their classes for this resource and let their students compare their water usage to the water usage of other people around the world. More than 50 classes have registered for this project as of December 2011.

  • DC Water for Kids: Parents and teachers can use the coloring pages, workbook sheets, activity pages, and lessons to teach kids about using water wisely.

  • Kids and Conservation: This page answers some of the most common questions about water and water conservation in terms kids can understand.

  • Water Conservation Around the House: This interactive page allows kids to reveal water conservation tips by clicking on the different rooms of a house.

  • Water Splash (PDF): This is a full-length booklet that includes information and activities to help parents and teachers explain water conservation to kids.

  • Water Conservation Activity Book (PDF): This activity book includes facts, quizzes, and activities to help kids learn about water conservation and the water cycle.

  • Water Conservation Kids Corner: This interactive resource includes games and quizzes to get kids interested in water conservation.

  • Water Conservation Activities and Resources for Students: This resource from the Arizona Department of Water Resources links to fact sheets, crossword puzzles, games, coloring books, activities, and booklets teachers and parents can use to spark an interest in water conservation.

  • Water Theme Resources: This resource offers printable activities to use with children ages 2 to 5.

  • 10 Fun Conservation Activities: This resource lists several ways for parents and teachers to help kids learn about wildlife conservation, energy conservation, and water conservation.

  • Life in the Desert: This activity will help kids learn about how the water supply affects animals. The activity requires students to make and measure their observations.

  • Water Conservation for Children: This resource discusses the water cycle in kid-friendly terminology. It also tells kids how they can help conserve water.

The Water Cycle

  • Water Cycle Activities (PDF): This resource, prepared by a teacher, lists several activities teachers can use to teach water conservation.

  • Water Cycle Diagram: This labeled water cycle diagram also includes a list of terminology related to the water cycle. This is ideal for use as a classroom handout.

  • The Water Cycle: The U.S. Geological Survey explains what the water cycle is and where water comes from.

  • Animated Water Cycle: This animated water cycle diagram allows kids to click on different parts of the cycle to see how water changes form and moves.

  • Droplet and Water Cycle: This NASA resource explains the water cycle in a story format, making it a kid-friendly resource.

  • Round & Round it Goes: This kid-friendly resource shows the water cycle in a diagram. It also includes quizzes and word searches to making learning about the water cycle fun.

  • Water Cycle Lesson: This interactive resource allows students to play a video that explains the water cycle in detail.

  • Water Cycle Worksheets: This resource offers several water cycle worksheets in PDF format.

  • Wonderful Water: Teachers can use this activity to help kids learn about the water cycle. The resource includes a grading rubric to help teachers grade this activity fairly.

  • Water Cycle Song: This resource includes lyrics and a sound file for a song about the water cycle. Singing this song in class can help make learning about the water cycle fun.

  • Water Cycle Fill-In: This activity asks kids to read a resource and fill in the answers to the questions. It also includes a short answer section.