7 Wonderful Water-Saving Gadgets

Photo by Lori Eanes

U.S. homeowners use 30 percent of their water outdoors, much of it on lawns and gardens. To reduce that drain, opt for a drip irrigation system to deliver moisture straight to thirsty roots, minimizing evaporation. RAINDRIP's easily installed Flower, Shrub and Tree Kit includes support stakes, 50 feet of tubing, and a timer that attaches to your spigot for hassle-free watering. $60

When rains arrive, position a cistern under a downspout to make the most of the watery bonanza. The H2O you catch can revive plants when things dry up again. The Cascata rain barrel from ALGREEN PRODUCTS holds 65 gallons and doubles as a tall planter. For easy access, an unobtrusive brass spigot attaches to a six-foot garden hose (included). $198

The space-saving CAROMA Profile Smart 305 is part toilet, part sink, a clever hybrid designed to reduce the 27,000 gallons of water the average U.S. household flushes down each year. After you flush, the faucet dispenses fresh water to wash your hands with; the resulting soapy water drains into the tank to be reused. The toilet is high-efficiency and dual-flush—just 0.8 or 1.28 gallons per use. $610

Photo by Lori Eanes

Do you daydream in the shower? Park the Waterpebble shower timer near the drain, and the little gadget will nag you when it's time to reach for the towel. It uses a traffic-light system: Green means that you've just started; yellow, that you're three minutes in. When it flashes red, step onto the bath mat. $12

Photo by Lori Eanes

Plop the shape-shifting Drop-A-Brick into your toilet tank, and the natural-rubber-and-gel block will displace about half a gallon of water. Over a year, that adds up to 3,000 gallons saved. Unlike a normal brick, it’s just 0.18 pounds and won’t mess up your plumbing by disintegrating. Bonus: It comes with dye tablets to detect toilet leaks. Read more. $15

For showers that take an eternity to heat up, EVOLVE TECHNOLOGIES has developed an easy fix: the Single Function Showerhead + ShowerStart TSV. When the water hits 95 degrees, this showerhead reduces flow to a trickle so all that hot water, and the energy it took to heat it, isn’t wasted. Once you’re ready to jump in, release the flow by pulling the cord. $40

Aerators are small, quiet superheroes that conserve water by mixing air into a faucet’s stream. NIAGARA CONSERVATION’s Tri-Max Aerator is one of the best, with three settings—0.5, 1, and 1.5 gallons per minute—for soaping, washing, and rinsing. It’s easy to install (just screw it onto your faucet head) and is pressure-compensated, allowing a consistent flow no matter what setting you’re on. $8