A faucet dripping at the rate of one-drop per second can amount to 2,700
gallons in a year, according to American Water and Energy Savers, a water conservation company.
In the face of imposed water restrictions and threats of drought, homeowners should get a grasp on the most efficient ways to water thirsty lawns and
gardens, as well as the best techniques and products to conserve water at home.

Home Depot expert Noel Howard offers the following tips to make every drop of water count:

Inside the home:

1. Faucet repair kits - Complete faucet repair kits or individual parts can be used to fix most any kitchen or bathroom leak. Take the original faucet parts to a hardware store to assure you're buying the right replacements.
2. Showerhead restrictors - Install water restrictors to lower the volume of water coming out of a showerhead and consider replacing an older
showerhead with a new model.
3. Aerators or tap savers - Replace worn aerators on kitchen and bathroom faucets. You'll still get a forceful stream of water and save up to 60 percent of the amount of water used.
4. Toilet repair kits - A running toilet is a water-waster, but fixing it is usually as simple as replacing the flapper. Individual parts or complete repair kits are available for any type of toilet.
Outside the home:
1.  Hose repair kits - These kits can stop a leaky garden hose and are
affordable and easy to use.
2. Nozzles - Always use a nozzle or a sprinkler wand on the end of a hose; never let water just run. To assure a tight fit, replace the rubber washer inside the nozzle. In addition, for older hoses with worn threads, wrap a ribbon of Teflon tape around the threads before screwing on the nozzle.
3. The Right Sprinkler or Hose - Avoid runoff and watering the driveway by managing the water flow. Your local hardware store has a variety of
sprinklers and hoses to choose from that allow you to regulate the flow of
water, as well as to adjust the width and length of the water stream.
4. Timers - Control your sprinkler's timing. Over-watering your lawn is a huge waste of water. These timers allow you to control the amount of time you spend watering your lawn so that you don't have to worry about
forgetting to change or turn the water off.
5. Mulch - During a dry spell, wind can further dry out shrubs and flowers. A light coating of mulch in your garden or flowerbeds will help preserve
moisture.
6. Soaker or sprinkler hoses - These special hoses allow water to flow slowly out of holes delivering water exactly where you need it at the base of the plant. They are an effective way to water a garden or flowerbed without runoff.
7. Lawn and plant food - Use a dry, slow-release lawn and plant food. Some do not require water and they won't burn grass or plants. Avoid using fertilizers until water restrictions ease up or it rains.
8. Self-watering pots - These flowerpots let you water indoor plants or
outdoor patio plants from the bottom. You use far less water than watering plants form the top.
9. Nature's helper - Retain your lawn's water with nature's helper is a
gel-based chemical that is sprinkled on the lawn to help it retain water for long periods of time.