Save Water and Money in the Bathroom

Can a woman's college dorm in Southern California hold a secret to your water-saving bathroom renovation?

Yes, says Alexandra Bennett, sustainability coordinator at Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego. Bennett is piloting a water-saving program at the college, which despite its proximity to the ocean lacks many local water sources.

By following the school's example and recycling gray water--waste water generated from domestic activities such as laundry, dishwashing and bathing--homeowners can conserve thousands of gallons every year. Nine to 12 gallons a day, on average, disappear down the bathroom sink for such activities as hand-washing, tooth-brushing, shaving, and makeup application and removal.

Here's how you can save some of that water--and your money--from going down the drain: