Water covers 70 percent of the Earth, but only 3% of it is clean and suitable for human consumption.[1] Even if you live in an area with ample rainfall, using water requires energy to process, pump, heat, re-pump, and re-process it. Fortunately, there are ways to save water for everyone from certified germaphobes to compost-toilet-level conservationists. The average family of four uses 450 liters (120 gallons) of water a day, which is 164,000 liters (44,000 gallons) a year.