6 hacks for when there's a water outage

Drought, contamination and rising water prices are just a few reasons why you may wish to limit or modify your water use. If it seems that water shortages are becoming more common, that isn’t your mind playing tricks on you—thanks to climate change, water scarcity grows worse each year. 

Whether you’re looking to conserve water because your supply has been compromised or you’re looking to keep your bills low as energy costs rise, here’s what you can do to save water while still staying hydrated and clean.

1. Remain hydrated with plenty of bottled water

If you have a water outage or are only allowed to use running water at certain times of day, it's a good idea to have a backup supply of clean water for drinking, cooking, bathing, and other household uses. Unopened, commercially bottled water is one of the safest and most reliable sources of water to have in an emergency—whether it's a water outage or a natural disaster emergency, you should always keep plenty of water bottles stored at home in case you need them one day. 

Stock up on at least one gallon per person per day: multiply one gallon by the number of people in your family and again by the expected days you’ll be out of water. If you're in a pinch and don’t have enough water stockpiled during a water outage, you can grab some cases from your local grocery or convenience store. You may also be able to get them sent to you via grocery delivery services.

2. Stay clean with extra-large body wipes

If you can't access water or are restricted to using it at certain times, you may be longing for a long, hot shower. While we can't promise massive body wipes will feel just as good as a warm shower, they do a great job in providing that post-shower freshness.

3. Refresh your hair with dry shampoo and conditioner

Similar to the body, hair can start to feel dirty and greasy after skipping one too many washes. Thankfully, there are waterless solutions for that, too. Dry shampoo is a wildly popular product that can help treat oily, greasy roots without washing your hair—and while it's great for everyday use, it's an awesome go-to when you don't have access to water or simply want to conserve water.

4. Stay sweat-free with a powerful deodorant

The temperature rise can be a struggle for those who sweat a lot. With a decent deodorant, you won’t need to shower multiple times a day when you perspire.

5. Use a rain barrel to help with future water conservation

Before a power outage or water restriction happens—or, if you're looking to save water for environmental or monetary purposes—consider investing in a rain barrel. Rainwater is a valuable resource that often flows down your home's gutters.

You can make good use of nature's water source with rain barrels, which are large containers that catch and store rainwater that runs off of your home's roof. Rainwater from barrels can be used for laundry, irrigation, and toilet flushing. This kind of water swap can significantly reduce your water costs and waste.

Rain barrels are easy to install and use. This sturdy, highly-rated rain barrel holds 50 gallons of water and comes with a spigot so you can connect it to a garden hose.

6. Use the dishwasher rather than doing the dishes by hand

Here's a myth you may have believed: washing dishes by hand rather than using the dishwasher saves water. Here's the truth: automatic dishwashers actually use far less water than hand scrubbing with soap and water, and there are plenty of studies to back this up. We put it to the test to see for ourselves and found that you're likely to use 3.5 times as much water as a dishwasher does. Talk about a huge dent in your water bill.

If you're in the market for a new dishwasher, we've tested and reviewed plenty of brands and models.