Surprisingly, most of my friends are not environmental activists, or even count the environment as a priority in their everyday lives. So when during a recent half-drunken concert after-party some friends started talking about water conservation practices at home, I was stunned. I mean, my friends and I never have these kinds of conversations! Why would they even know water conservation tips? To start with, less than 2% of the Earth’s water supply is fresh water. Of all the earth's water, 97% is salt water found in oceans and seas. Only 1% of the earth's water is available for drinking water. Two percent is frozen, and much of what is available is polluted or carries water-borne diseases. Many experts predict that access to clean drinking water may be one of the main sources of conflict in coming years. According to UNICEF, about 884 million people lack adequate access to safe drinking water. Of course, what many see as a problem, multinationals like Monsanto see as an opportunity. Privatization of the water supply and consolidation of basic needs in the hands of ethically-bankrupt, unelected, and purely profit-driven MNCs.

"Monsanto plans to earn revenues of $420 million and a net income of $63 million by 2008 from its water business in India and Mexico. By 2010, about 2.5 billion people in the world are projected to lack access to safe drinking water. At least 30 per cent of the population in China, India, Mexico and the U.S. is expected to face severe water stress. By 2025, the supply of water in India will be 700 cubic km per year, while the demand is expected to rise to 1,050 units. Control over this scarce and vital resource will, of course, be a source of guaranteed profits. As John Bastin of the European Bank of Reconstruction and Development has said, ‘Water is the last infrastructure frontier for private investors.’ Monsanto estimates that providing safe water is a several billion dollar market. It is growing at 25 to 30 per cent in rural communities and is estimated to rise to $300 million by 2000 in India and Mexico. The Indian Government spent over $1.2 billion between 1992 and 1997 for various water projects, while the World Bank spent $900 million.” (Vandana Shiva, Director of the Research Foundation for Science, Technology and Ecology, New Delhi.)

Besides the ecological impact of the billions of throw-away PET bottles, bottled water is a“$60-billion industry sold 241 billion liters of water in 2008, more than double the amount sold in 2000. Through its global advertising efforts, the industry has helped create the impression that bottled water is healthier, tastier, and more fashionable than publicly supplied water, even as studies have found some bottled water brands to be less safe than public tap water and to cost 240 to 10,000 times as much” (State of the World 2010)

In order to put water consumption in perspective, the average American uses 140-170 gallons (487-643 liters) of water per day. Hungarians use about 100 liters per capita per day (Viz Kozmu). If every household in America had a faucet that dripped once each second, 928 million gallons (3.5 billion liters) of water a day would leak away. An average family of four uses 881 gallons (3330 liters) of water per week just by flushing the toilet. 75% of water used indoors is in the bathroom, and 25% of this is for the toilet.

Even though I am the master of the 5-minute shower, I have been lazy on this front, and there is no reason to be. The fixes are easy, and usually free.

1.    If it’s yellow let it mellow, if it’s brown flush it down!
2.    Make sure there are water-saving aerators on all of your faucets. This single best home water conservation method is also the cheapest!
3.    When washing dishes by hand, don't let the water run while rinsing. Fill one sink with wash water and the other (or a big bowl) with rinse water. IKEA now offers a large rubber artificial sink (Boholmen, 2500 huf) with handles if you have only a single sink. Or better yet, don’t rinse, just let the soup and water drip off naturally in the drying rack.
4.    Run your clothes washer and dishwasher only when they are full. You can save up to 1,000 gallons (3780 liters) a month.
5.    For cold drinks keep a pitcher of water in the refrigerator instead of running the tap. This way, every drop goes down you and not the drain.
6.    Wash your fruits and vegetables in a pan of water instead of running water from the tap.
7.    If your shower fills a one-gallon (3.78 liter) bucket in less than 20 seconds, replace the showerhead with a water-efficient model.
8.    Collect the water you use for rinsing fruits and vegetables, then reuse it to water houseplants.
9.    When buying new appliances, consider those that offer cycle and load size adjustments. They're more water and energy efficient.
10.    Shorten your shower by a minute or two and you'll save up to 150 gallons (567 liters) per month. Turn off the shower after soaping up, then turn it back on to rinse. A four-minute shower uses approximately 20 to 40 gallons (76-151 liters) of water.
11.    Upgrade older toilets with water-efficient models. For new installations, consider buying "low flush" toilets, which use 1 to 2 gallons per flush instead of the usual 3 to 5 gallons. Replacing an 18 liter per flush toilet with an ultra-low volume (ULV) 6 liter flush model represents a 70% savings in water flushed and will cut indoor water use by about 30%.
12.    When cleaning out fish tanks, give the nutrient-rich water to your plants.
13.    Listen for dripping faucets and running toilets. Fixing a leaky tap can save 300 gallons (1134 liters) a month or more.
14.    Put food coloring in your toilet tank. If it seeps into the toilet bowl without flushing, you have a leak. If, without flushing, the color begins to appear in the bowl within 30 minutes, you have a leak that should be repaired immediately. Most replacement parts are inexpensive and easy to install. Fixing it can save up to 1,000 gallons (3780 liters) a month.
15.    Be sure at least 3 gallons (11.3 liters) of water remain in the tank so it will flush properly. If there is not enough water to get a proper flush, users will hold the lever down too long or do multiple flushes to get rid of waste. Two flushings at 1.4 gallons (5.3 liters) is worse than a single 2 gallon (7.6 liters) flush. A better suggestion would be to buy an adjustable toilet flapper that allow for adjustment of their per flush use. Then the user can adjust the flush rate to the minimum per flush setting that achieves a single good flush each time.
16.    Use your water meter to check for hidden water leaks. Read the house water meter before and after a two-hour period when no water is being used. If the meter does not read exactly the same, there is a leak.
17.    When running a bath, plug the tub before turning the water on, then adjust the temperature as the tub fills up.
18.    Collect water from your roof to water your garden.
19.    Designate one glass for your drinking water each day or refill a water bottle. This will cut down on the number of glasses to wash.
20.    Don't use running water to thaw food. Defrost food in the refrigerator for water efficiency and food safety.
21.    Grab a wrench and a washer and fix that leaky faucet. It's simple, inexpensive, and you can save 140 gallons (529 liters) a week. A small drip from a worn faucet washer can waste 20 gallons (76 liters) of water per day.
22.    When doing laundry, match the water level to the size of the load. Use your dishwasher and clothes washer for only full loads. Avoid the permanent press cycle, which uses an added 20 liters (5 gallons) for the extra rinse.
23.    Teach your children to turn off faucets tightly after each use.
24.    Use a water-efficient showerhead. They're inexpensive, easy to install, and can save you up to 750 gallons (283 liters) a month. Water-efficient shower heads help reduce water consumption by up to 40%. These can save a family of four up to 17,000 gallons (64260 liters)of water a year.
25.    Soak pots and pans instead of letting the water run while you scrape them clean.
26.    Don't water your lawn on windy days when most of the water blows away or evaporates.
27.    Turn off the water while brushing your teeth and save 25 gallons (95 liters) a month.
28.    Install an instant water heater near your kitchen sink so you don't have to run the water while it heats up. This also reduces energy costs.
29.    If your dishwasher is new, cut back on rinsing. Newer models clean more thoroughly than older ones. Automatic dishwashers and clothes washers should be fully loaded for optimum water conservation. Most makers of dishwashing soap recomend not pre-rinsing dishes which is a big water savings. 
30.    When the kids want to cool off, use the sprinkler in an area where your lawn needs it the most.
31.    Bathe your young children together.
32.    Insulate hot water pipes with pre-slit foam pipe insulation for more immediate hot water at the faucet and for energy savings.This stuff is very cheap, easy to install, and is available at all hardware stores like Obi, Praktiker, Baumax, etc….You'll get hot water faster plus avoid wasting water while it heats up
33.    Direct water from rain gutters toward water-loving plants in the landscape for automatic water savings.
34.    Make suggestions to your employer about ways to save water and money at work.
35.    Use a hose nozzle or turn off the water while you wash your car. You'll save up to 100 gallons (378 liters) every time.
36.    Share water conservation tips with friends and neighbors.
37.    If your toilet was installed before 1992, reduce the amount of water used for each flush by inserting a displacement device in the tank. To cut down on water waste, put an inch or two of sand or pebbles inside each of two plastic bottles to weigh them down. Fill the bottles with water, screw the lids on, and put them in your toilet tank, safely away from the operating mechanisms. This may save 38 or more liters of water per day. I have also found an old brick to be useful if the tank is safely secured.
38.    Washing dark clothes in cold water saves both on water and energy while it helps your clothes to keep their colors.
39.    Leave lower branches on trees and shrubs and allow leaf litter to accumulate on the soil. This keeps the soil cooler and reduces evaporation.
40.    Report broken pipes, open hydrants and errant sprinklers to the property owner or your water provider.
41.    Let your lawn go dormant during the summer. Dormant grass only needs to be watered every three weeks or less if it rains.
42.    Water only when necessary. More plants die from over-watering than from under-watering.
43.    One more way to get eight glasses of water a day is to re-use the water left over from cooked or steamed foods to start a scrumptious and nutritious soup.
44.    Turn off the water while you wash your hair to save up to 150 gallons (567 liters) a month. There is a nifty cheap gadget that you can attach to your shower hose that allows you to temporarily turn off the water flow without having to readjust the temperature when you turn on the flow again.
45.    Wash your pets outdoors in an area of your lawn that needs water.
46.    When shopping for a new clothes washer, compare resource savings among Energy Star models. Some of these can save up to 20 gallons (76 liters) per load, and energy too. For partial loads, adjust water levels to match the size of the load. Replace old clothes washers. New Energy Star rated washers use 35 - 50% less water and 50% less energy per load. If you're in the market for a new clothes washer, consider buying a water-saving frontload washer.
47.    Turn off the water while you shave and save up to 300 gallons (1134 liters) a month.
48.    When you give your pet fresh water, don't throw the old water down the drain. Use it to water your trees or shrubs.
49.    If you accidentally drop ice cubes when filling your glass from the freezer, don't throw them in the sink. Drop them in a house plant instead.
50.    To save water and time, consider washing your face or brushing your teeth while in the shower.
51.    While staying in a hotel or even at home, reuse your towels.
52.    For hanging baskets, planters and pots, place ice cubes under the moss or dirt to give your plants a cool drink of water and help eliminate water overflow.
53.    When you have ice left in your cup from a take-out restaurant, don't throw it in the trash, dump it on a plant.
54.    Have your plumber re-route your gray water to trees and gardens rather than letting it run into the sewer line. Check with your city codes, and if it isn't allowed in your area, start a movement to get that changed.
55.    Keep a bucket in the shower to catch water as it warms up or runs. Use this water to flush toilets or water plants.I have tried this, and I fill ¾ of a bucket before my shower is hot.
56.    When you are washing your hands, don't let the water run while you lather.
57.    Don't use the toilet as an ashtray or wastebasket. Every time you flush a cigarette butt, facial tissue or other small bit of trash, five to seven gallons of water is wasted.
58.    Use a broom, not a hose, to clean driveways and sidewalks
59.    Turn off the water after you wet your toothbrush. There is no need to keep the water running while brushing your teeth. Just wet your brush and fill a glass for mouth rinsing.
60.    Rinse your razor in the sink. Fill the sink with a few inches of warm water. This will rinse your razor just as well as running water, with far less waste of water.

Sources: http://www.wateruseitwisely.com/100-ways-to-conserve/index.php
http://eartheasy.com/live_water_saving.htm