Water ConservationDrinking fresh, clean water is something we take for granted. We may not think carefully about what it takes, but from the place of origin of a stream or river to the water in the tap, a lot of things happen to make that water safe to drink and use it in different ways at home. Our water may come from Mother Nature, but it is far from having its original purity. Since water is considered a valuable resource, we need to find ways to reduce and prevent waste. My efforts to use water efficiently for a week at home helped reduce water by 328 gallons. My estimate of the different ways I use water in my home included showering, flushing toilets, washing hands/face, brushing teeth, washing dishes, and washing clothes. Reducing water by 328 gallons in a week doesn't seem like much when you consider each one. A person uses about 80 to 100 gallons of water per day, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. It's probably not much of a surprise to learn that the primary use of household water is flushing toilets, showering and/or bathing, and using kitchen and bathroom faucets bath. For better water conservation, we are starting to see products that use less water than before and are more energy efficient. For example, in some areas, the local government may have laws that specify new water faucets, toilets, and shower heads that only have a certain flow rate of water per minute. Another way to conserve water is through the ENERGY STAR program, a voluntary program under the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that helps businesses and individuals save money and protect the climate through to energy efficiency. ("Energy Star", "nd", p. 1) Although average Americans can save a lot of money, they save a lot of paper by "clearing mature forests much faster than they could." grow back and erode topsoil faster than nature can renew it. And we're also loading some rivers, lakes, and oceans with chemical and animal waste faster than those bodies of water can clean themselves. (Miller & Spoolman, 2013, p. 9) Due to population growth, human activities are placing increased pressure on the Earth's natural functions, making it difficult to sustain the planet's ecosystems for future generations. (Miller & Spoolman, 2013, p. 12) If people continue to live unsustainably, it will affect large amounts of fresh water from streams and lakes that humans and other species cannot live without. Because water is vital to humans and other species, it is essential to raise awareness of water scarcity among individuals and communities and find ways to reduce and prevent waste..