News Article

Upgrading appliances and fixtures helps save water

Drought highlights need for long-term water-saving strategies.

As Denver Water enters the summer of 2026 with new outdoor watering restrictions, it’s important to think about saving water indoors, too.

“We’re implementing mandatory two-days-per-week watering restrictions this summer to stretch the water supplies we have in our reservoirs, due to the historically low snowpack in the mountains,” said Greg Fisher, Denver Water’s manager of demand planning.

“This winter’s warm and dry weather serves as a reminder that we live in a dry climate and always need to think about ways to conserve water now and into the future.”

An orange graphic that says Use Only What You Need — Use Only What You Need. Image credit: Denver Water.

Outdoor watering is one piece of the conservation puzzle, but there are many things you can do inside the home to reduce your water use.

When looking to save water inside your home, plenty of measures are free or relatively inexpensive to do. We’ve rounded up some of those ideas here.

After making some simple lifestyle changes, Denver Water recommends looking into upgrading washing machines, dishwashers, showerheads, faucets and toilets.

The EPA says the average family can save 13,000 gallons of water annually by investing in water-efficient appliances and fixtures.

Check the label

When buying new appliances and fixtures, Denver Water recommends purchasing products that carry an Energy Star or WaterSense label, which means the product uses less energy or water compared to products that don’t carry those labels.

For example, high-efficiency showerheads use about 1.75 gallons per minute compared to older ones that use 2.5 gallons per minute.

A man changes a showerhead. — Replacing older showerheads with new high-efficiency models can save thousands of gallons every year. Photo credit: Denver Water.

Replacing an older washing machine with an Energy Star model can save 30 to 40 gallons per load.

Newer water efficient dishwashers can save 3,870 gallons of water annually.

Replacing faucet aerators is another way to save money and water. New aerators for bathroom sinks dispense just half a gallon of water per minute compared to older ones that use around 1 to 1.5 gallons per minute.

A close-up of a hand unscrewing a sink's faucet aerator. — Replacing faucet aerators is a simple and inexpensive way to save water at home. Newer aerators can save more than 1 gallon per minute. Photo credit: Denver Water.

The TAVA Waters community in southeast Denver shows how advancements in technology allow water-efficient products to save money and water without loss of performance.

Rebates

Denver Water offers rebates for customers interested in reducing water use indoors and out.

Rebates are available for some high-efficiency toilets and high-efficiency sprinkler heads. Be sure to check Denver Water's website for details about which models qualify for rebates.

A person maneuvers a toilet into place. — Replacing older toilets with newer ones can save thousands of gallons every year. Denver Water offers rebates of up to $100 on toilets that use an average of 0.8 gallons per flush or less. Photo credit: Denver Water.