Try to flush only when you have to. If you have an old, inefficient toilet, you'll save four gallons of water each time you forego the flush. If you can cut-out five flushes per ... read full tip

Try to flush only when you have to. If you have an old, inefficient toilet, you'll save four gallons of water each time you forego the flush. If you can cut-out five flushes per day, you may be able to save up to 7,000 gallons per year.

OK, so if the whole idea of not flushing completely grosses you out, you can easily reduce your flushes by not using the toilet for things like paper towels containing squashed bugs, used tissues, and as a receptacle for general bathroom debris.

If every U.S. household eliminated just one flush per day, the total amount of water saved over an entire year would equal at least 75 billion gallons, and more than $300 million on water bills. That savings is enough to purchase a new, dual-flush toilet for more than one million homes.

California Urban Water Conservation Council