Water may be the biggest thing that we take for granted in the Western world. It’s scarce in many developing countries, and it’s becoming so in urban areas, as now nearly 1 out of 2 people on Earth live in cities. Because of this, the theme for World Water Day 2011, which is on March 22, is “Urban Water Usage.” In order to help manage our urban water—as well as water resources everywhere—click here to get in on World Water Day next week.

Here are some ideas to use when celebrating and taking part in World Water Day.

-Reduce your water usage. Try to go the whole day without water and see if you can do it. What was it like? Or fill a single bucket, knowing that many families have to walk for miles to obtain just this, and try to make it last for the whole day.

-Don’t dump out that glass of water on your bedside table; instead, use it on the plants, or give it to the dog.

-Stop drinking bottled water; instead, install a water filtration system.

-When you take a shower, do it European-style. Shut the water off as you soap up, then turn it back on just to rinse off. See if you can make this an actual daily practice.

-Better yet, go a day without a shower. We shower way too much in the West. If you don’t stink and your hair isn’t too oily, you can definitely go a day without showing. Try using your clothes for an extra day, too, if they’re not soiled—save some laundry water while you’re at it.

-Use grey water. Use your dishwater and bath water to water flowers outside—or get a rain barrel to collect rain to use on your garden during dry weeks. Remember, these things will also save you money!

-Teach your children not to waste water when they brush their teeth, wash their hands, etc.

-Try not flushing when there’s just urine in the toilet. Some people get grossed out by this but it’s really wasteful to spend that much water on one little pee!

-Install water-friendly devices in your home, such as low-flow shower heads and toilets. If you’re really brave, try a composting toilet!

-Repair leaky roofs, faucets, and other broken household items. Set out buckets to catch water from gutters and other outdoor structures and reuse it.