The less water America wastes, the more likely it is that clean drinking water will still exist in a few decades or centuries. But did you know there's a lot you can do to support drinking water reserves?

The more you become aware of your personal water footprint and the more steps you take to reduce it, the less you'll be personally contributing to any future water crises. Here are some steps you can take in addition to installing efficient appliances and low-flow faucets.

1. Start Reusing Gray Water

In some areas of life, you may be able to reduce your personal water use by using the same water twice, doubling its usefulness. This is called gray water reuse. Some easy ways to start with gray water reuse include watering plants with rinse-water from the dishes and keeping a bucket in your bathroom so you can catch the warm-up water when you shower.

These steps allow you to dip your toe into the idea of reusing gray water and get used to the idea before you put forth any expenditure. If you want to start changing your plumbing system to help you reuse gray water, check local codes to see what's legal and what the requirements are for gray water systems that are up to code. A local plumber can help you find these rules.

The easiest addition you can make is putting rain barrels under your downspouts to catch rainwater for your garden or landscaping. Other common plumbing modifications to help with gray water reuse include:

• Attaching your bathroom sink drain to the toilet tank so you can flush the toilet with the water after washing your hands

• Connecting your washing machine to a large barrel to store the wash-water and use it on landscaping later

• Installing a shower loop to purify and re-use the same water over and over for your entire shower

You'll want to have your plumber do the work for more major installations such as these.

2. Try Nontoxic Cleaning Products

Did you know that many common cleaning products can have negative effects on wildlife and the environment? It can be difficult to find cleaning products that are actually non-toxic and non-harmful, especially because greenwashing is so common nowadays.

Is instead of simply choosing a product that says it's okay for the environment, research which ingredients to avoid and then check the ingredient labels on the product before you buy. Or if memorizing chemical names is not your strong suit, check the EWG database before shopping to find products that aren't likely to harm the environment.

Chemical pollution would not be such a big problem if wastewater treatment actually removed all of the chemicals. However, current wastewater facilities simply don't have that capability. Many chemicals from medications and agriculture, for example, are still in the water after it leaves treatment facilities.

3. Monitor Your Septic System and Sewer Line for Leaks

Whether you have a septic system or sewer hookup, a leak could allow your wastewater directly into the soil instead of allowing it to be processed as usual. This can lead to contamination of groundwater and even drinking water wells.

That's why it's vitally important to monitor your sewer line or your septic system and fix any leaks promptly. Regular maintenance and professional inspections can also help prevent problems or catch them while they're still minor. A professional inspection can include putting a tiny video camera through the sewer line to visually inspect it for damage.

These three tips can help you reduce your personal water footprint, making your impact on clean drinking water reserves smaller. For more information about septic and sewer line maintenance or gray water reuse modifications, get in touch with Complete Plumbing today.