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As Guernsey Water warns of possible restrictions this winter as the island's reserves run low, we've collated some of the best tips to help you cut back.
Putting a brick in the toilet cistern and sharing a bath with your loved ones may remind older readers of the long hot summer of 1976, which turned into a dry winter too.
Now, while times have changed and many of our household appliances and facilities use less water anyway, there are a range of new tips and tricks to use even less.
This comes as Guernsey Water warns that water reserves have dropped to 69%. That follows a dryer than average year, which despite a wet September, has resulted in water levels falling across the island's reservoirs.
To prevent restrictions being imposed, the utility is asking everyone to try and use less water. It has issued these tips to help us all do that.
Half of all water consumed in the home is used in the bathroom.
To reduce that we're advised to take shorter showers, and to turn down the thermostat so our shower runs at a skin friendly temperature as adding cold water to the hot water is a waste.
Pictured: Check your taps aren't dripping and turn them off when not needed.
Check your plug fits properly if you're having a bath, and collect used bath and shower water for use in the garden when you're done washing yourself.
Taps should be turned off when cleaning our teeth and ideally the toilet should only be flushed when necessary. Who remembers the line in Meet the Fockers: "if it's yellow let it mellow...."
Hot water pipes can be more effective if well insulated too.
More bathroom tips can be read HERE.
While the bathroom may be the source of the most water usage in many households, the kitchen ranks highly too.
To try and moderate water usage dishwashers and washing machines should only be turned on when they are full. Short cycles should also be used where possible
Use washing up liquid sparingly to cut back on the amount of water used for rinsing, and also fill the bowl rather than washing them under a running tap.
To keep yourself hydrated a jug of water can be kept in the fridge, so it is always cold when you fancy a drink, rather than running the tap to get it to the desired temperature.
More kitchen tips can be read HERE
We've been warned that water restrictions may have to be introduced over the winter months if water reserves continue to run low.
In the meantime, if you need to water your garden, use a watering can and not a hose, and reuse water from the kitchen or bathroom where possible.
Pictured: To try and conserve water gardens should be refreshed with a watering can and not by hose.
Keeping your car clean can be done with a bucket and sponge and where possible any outdoor cleaning which needs to be done should be arranged so the water run off can water the lawn or plants too.
More garden tips can be read HERE.
Guernsey Water says as well as conserving water, cutting down on individual usage will benefit bill payers too.
The utility said it can:
Additional tips for saving water at work and school are also available HERE.
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