The phrase "peak oil" is one that has been tossed around quite a bit lately, which comes at no surprise considering oil is hovering around $100 a barrel. But is oil the only resource that is at risk of considerable shortage?

While the earth's surface is covered by water, 97.5 percent of it is salt water. Of the remaining 2.5 percent that is fresh water, about 69 percent is frozen in ice caps and glaciers. If you then factor in the amount of contaminated and polluted fresh water, we are left with a dearth of safe, drinkable water.

This is a global problem, one that may continue to worsen in years to come. That's why it's incumbent upon all of us to do whatever we can to help, even if it comes at our own inconvenience. To that end, here are just a few ways that you can cut down on your water usage and do your part to help protect our most precious natural resource.

• Turn the faucet off when shaving or brushing your teeth
• When washing dishes by hand, fill the sink with water instead of allowing the water to run the entire time
• Take shorter showers
• Recycle and reuse water for watering plants or your cleaning needs
• Retrofit all wasteful faucets by installing aerators with flow restrictors
• Don't over-water your lawn, and do so in the morning, when less evaporation occurs
• Check for water leaks and repair dripping faucets
• Avoid over-fertilizing your lawn, as it will lead to an increase in water demand
• Plant drought-tolerant shrubs, trees, and grasses, which require far less water