Dry to the bone

Parts of the U.S. are learning about water conservation the hard way right now. Georgia has declared a state of emergency due to drought.

Much of the southern U.S. is suffering -- Alabama, North and South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and Florida also have below- normal rainfall to near drought conditions this year.

And other parts of the country are historically dry anyway, so conservation is a good idea year-round.

Arizona's Water – Use It Wisely site overflows with good tips to reduce water use around the house. Some you may have heard about, like don't let the water run while brushing your teeth.

Others may be new.

Instead of using the garbage disposal, compost to save water. Put a bucket in the shower to catch excess water, then use that to flush toilets or water plants. Get inspired by the monthly calendar of seasonal tips.

Want to go a bit farther? Check out Conserve Water Georgia's links for creative ideas like reusing water from your air conditioning unit or collecting rain water.

The same site also notes that leaking faucets and toilets waste about 8 percent of water in an average house. But you don't have to call a plumber.

Start by finding leaks for yourself. The Southern Nevada Water Authority has a series of handy videos about leaks in your house's plumbing, plus videos about smart irrigation and indoor water-saving tips.

Got a leaky faucet? Count the number of drips in a minute, and the WaterWiser Drip Calculator will estimate how much H2O that fixture is wasting. You'll want to fix it fast!

I like Expert Village's video showing how to change out a worn washer that's usually the cause of the drippy faucet. HowStuffWorks has good step-by-step instructions, if you prefer learning that way.

I've fixed this problem at my own kitchen sink. It's pretty fast and very cheap. Less expensive than the water bill, that's for sure.

That's the most obvious kind of leak, but something may be lurking in the bathroom too. Toiletology will show you how to test if your loo is leaking. Go to the site's Lesson Plan to see if you can fix it yourself (not as hard as you think!) or if you really should call a plumber.

Speaking of toilets, hearken back to the '70s and remember the old hippie conservation slogan: if it's yellow, let it mellow / if it's brown, flush it down. Consider that a short-term fix before you can install a low-flow toilet.