Water Conservation at The Home Depot

Water is an essential resource for everyday life at home and plays an important role in supporting healthy ecosystems. From fixing leaks and upgrading bathroom fixtures to improving irrigation and selecting more efficient appliances, small changes can add up to meaningful savings over time.

At The Home Depot, we believe one of the biggest ways we can support water conservation is through the products we offer. That is why we work closely with suppliers to help bring customers innovative solutions that can save water and money. This includes WaterSense-labeled fixtures and irrigation products. It also includes ENERGY STAR-certified appliances and project ideas that make it easier to use water more thoughtfully, both indoors and outdoors.

We created this guide to help you understand where water is used most often in the home, and where simple improvements can make the biggest difference. Whether you’re starting with a dripping faucet or planning a larger irrigation upgrade, the goal is to help you take practical next steps with confidence.

---

Universal Water-Saving Rules

Before you start, these principles apply to most water-saving projects:

• Fix leaks first. A low-cost repair can often deliver the fastest payoff.
• Look for WaterSense when shopping for bathroom fixtures or irrigation products. These products are independently certified for both performance and efficiency.
• Choose ENERGY STAR-certified appliances when it’s time to replace washers or dishwashers. They’re designed to use less water and energy over time.
• Match outdoor watering to weather and season. Even the right products cannot make up for over-watering.

A Note About What WaterSense Means, and Why it Matters

Water is not equally available everywhere or every season. Drought conditions, aging infrastructure and population growth put pressure on water supplies across the country, from the arid Southwest to communities that face dry summers in otherwise temperate regions. Even in areas with reliable rainfall, local utilities increasingly face peak-demand challenges that make conservation a year-round priority.

WaterSense is a program from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that helps shoppers identify products that use water more efficiently while still delivering reliable performance. When you’re comparing toilets, showerheads, bathroom sink faucets or irrigation controllers, the label is one of the simplest ways to narrow in on options designed to reduce water use without sacrificing everyday function.

• Look for the label first. Start with categories that can have the biggest effect on household water use such as toilets, showerheads, faucets and irrigation products.
• Compare long-term value. Purchase price matters but so do the water savings you can see over time on your utility bill.
• Check for rebates and incentives. Offers may vary by product and location, so review current promotions before you buy.

---

Indoor Water Conservation

Indoor water conservation is often the quickest place to see results because the biggest water users are fixtures you rely on every day. The EPA estimates that 10% of homes each have leaks that waste 90 gallons or more each day. Start by fixing hidden issues like running toilets and slow leaks. Then consider higher-impact upgrades such as WaterSense-labeled toilets, showerheads and bathroom faucets. The tips below focus on the indoor changes that typically deliver the most noticeable savings, with straightforward cost ranges and payback over time.

Indoor Water Savings at a Glance

Action	Typical cost range (product only)	Estimated savings*	Why it’s high-impact
Fix common leaks (toilet flapper, dripping faucet, worn valves)	$5 to $30	Nearly 10,000 gallons per year	Lowest cost, immediate results
Upgrade to a WaterSense-labeled toilet	$150 to $500+	Nearly 13,000 gallons per year and $170+ per year in water costs for the average family	Toilets are a major source of indoor water use
Install a WaterSense-labeled showerhead	$20 to $150	2,700 gallons per year and $75+ per year in energy and water costs (per showerhead)	Cuts hot water use, which also reduces water heating demand
Add a WaterSense-labeled bathroom faucet or aerator	$5 to $250+	700 gallons per year for the average family, plus WaterSense models can reduce flow by 30% or more versus standard flow	Easy upgrade that adds up with daily use
Choose an ENERGY STAR-certified dishwasher	$400 to $1,200+	5,800 gallons over its lifetime	Efficient cycles use less water per load
Choose an ENERGY STAR-certified clothes washer	$600 to $1,400+	Uses 14 gallons per load vs. 20 gallons for a standard machine	Big difference if you run frequent loads

*Estimated savings are based on figures from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency WaterSense program for leaks, toilets, showerheads, and bathroom faucets and ENERGY STAR for dishwashers and clothes washers. Actual savings can vary based on product choice, household size, usage habits and local utility rates.

Focus on High-Impact Bathroom Upgrades

Bathrooms are one of the best places to start when you want to save water indoors because toilets, showerheads and faucets are used every day. If you’re ready to move beyond leak fixes, these are often the next upgrades that can make the biggest difference.

A WaterSense-labeled toilet is a strong long-term upgrade if yours is older or uses more water per flush. Today’s high-efficiency models are designed to use less water while still delivering the performance most households expect. 

WaterSense-labeled showerheads and bathroom faucets can also help reduce water use without changing the way these fixtures work day to day. If your sink or shower takes a long time to warm up, you may also be sending usable water down the drain while you wait. In that case, it can help to check fixtures farthest from the water heater first, insulate accessible hot water lines and consider replacing older fixtures with more efficient options where needed.

---

Outdoor Water Conservation

Outdoor use can be a major share of household water demand, especially in warmer months. For many homes, the biggest opportunities come from correcting over-watering, fixing broken irrigation parts and choosing landscaping that needs less supplemental water once established.

Outdoor Water Savings at a Glance

Action	Typical cost range (product only)	Estimated savings*	Why it’s high-impact
Replace a smart controller with a WaterSense-labeled irrigation controller	$120 to $300+	Can save an average home up to 15,000 gallons per year	Reduces over-watering by adjusting to conditions
Install WaterSense-labeled spray sprinkler bodies (best for high-pressure systems)	$5 to $20 each	Can save nearly 5,600 gallons and $60 per year (for an average household operating at or above 60 psi)	Helps reduce misting and runoff
Tune watering habits and fix broken heads	$0 to $30	50% of outdoor water use can be wasted due to evaporation, wind or runoff from over-watering	No-purchase-necessary changes can prevent the biggest losses
Shift plant choices and layout (native plants, drought-tolerant options, xeriscaping principles)	Varies	Savings vary by region and design	Reduces irrigation demand long-term

*Estimated savings are based on figures from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency WaterSense program for irrigation controllers and spray sprinkler bodies, along with EPA guidance on outdoor water waste from over-watering. Actual savings can vary based on product choice, yard size, watering habits, climate and local utility rates.

Focus on High-Impact Outdoor Updates

Outdoor water savings often come down to three key areas: making sure your irrigation system is working properly, upgrading controls that help prevent over-watering and choosing landscaping that needs less supplemental watering over time. If you’re ready to move beyond basic watering habits, these are often the next steps that can make the biggest difference.

Start by checking for broken sprinkler heads or uneven spray patterns. Leaks from damaged heads can be easy to miss because many systems run early in the morning or overnight. Walk through each zone occasionally to look for misting, pooling water, crooked spray patterns, or heads blocked by grass or mulch.

If your system still runs on fixed times and durations, a WaterSense-labeled irrigation controller can be a strong upgrade. These controllers are designed to adjust watering based on local conditions, helping reduce waste without requiring you to manage every setting manually.

Longer term, lower-water landscaping can help reduce how often you need to irrigate by matching plants to your climate and grouping them by similar watering needs. Start by replacing small sections of high-water turf with drought-tolerant or native plants, then add mulch to retain moisture and improve the soil so water soaks in rather than running off. Xeriscaping is another option that uses thoughtful plant selection, efficient irrigation and moisture-smart design to create an attractive yard that typically needs less supplemental watering.

For some homeowners, rain barrels can also be a practical way to collect and reuse rainwater for outdoor tasks like watering gardens and landscaping.

---

A Simple Starter Plan

1. Today: Fix one leak or confirm you do not have one.  
2. This weekend: Install a WaterSense showerhead or faucet aerator, then consider a WaterSense toilet if yours is older.
3. This season: If you irrigate, upgrade to a WaterSense-labeled controller, check sprinkler coverage and consider adding a rain barrel for outdoor watering needs.

Once you knock out these basics, keep building from there by tackling one upgrade per season so the savings can stack up without feeling overwhelming. One easy way to measure progress is to compare your water bill month over month and note when you made each change so you can see what is driving the biggest drop.

---

Additional Resources

Keep these sources handy as you plan future upgrades or look for project inspiration:

• EPA WaterSense: Learn how the label works and compare fixture and irrigation categories.
• The Home Depot Rebate Center: Search for current rebates on eligible products and find offers available in your area.