Water Saving Tips for Major Appliances
Clothes washers can use as much as 30-35 gallons (114-133 liters) of water per cycle and dishwashers as much as 25 gallons (95 liters) per cycle. A full dishwasher is more water efficient than washing the same load by hand. Energy efficient appliances are usually water efficient, too.

Dishwashers

• Only run your dishwasher when it is full to make the best use of water, energy and detergent.
• Cut down on the amount of rinsing you do before loading the dishwasher. Most modern dishwashers do an excellent job of cleaning dishes, pots and pans all by themselves.
• When purchasing a new appliance, look for one offering several different cycles. This will allow you to select more energy and water efficient cycles when heavy-duty cleaning is not required.

Clothes Washers

• Wait until you have a full load of laundry before running the machine to save both water and energy. If you can't wait for a full load, use the right water level to match the size of the load.
• When in the market for a new machine, consider a high-efficiency model that will use an average of 30% less water and 40-50% less energy.
• Insulate your hot water pipes and your electric water heater. Insulation will reduce the amount of time it takes for hot water to reach the tap, saving water and energy.
• If in the market for a new water softener, consider one with a "hardness sensor" that will automatically trigger regeneration as needed. This type of softener will make the most efficient use of both water and salt.