By wasting less water, we leave more water for other uses, like recreation and fishing, and reduce the risk of pollution.
Conserving water reduces health risks, too.
Water is more susceptible to bacterial contamination when it moves slowly. Nearly one million Americans get sick each year from contaminated water. One in five Americans drink water contaminated by toxic chemicals, so keeping toxic chemicals out of our water supply is important. One source of pollution is chemicals running off farmlands into rivers and streams. Another source is pollutants we pour down the drain or into the sewer at home.