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Water Usage

• How much water does the average person use at home per day? Estimates vary, but each person uses about 80-100 gallons of water per day. Are you surprised that the largest use of household water is to flush the toilet, and after that, to take showers and baths? That is why, in these days of water conservation, we are starting to see toilets and showers that use less water than before.

• The average leaky toilet can waste about 200 gallons of water per day. That’s over 6,000 gallons a month.

Water Consumption Calculator :This presentation will assist you in tracking your household consumption, both indoor and outdoors. After calculating your water use patterns, you can begin conserving in ways that work best with your lifestyle. Enter information into the form below and press the "Calculate" button to calculate your daily, monthly, and yearly water use in gallons. You do not need to answer every question if they do not apply.

Ways to save:

1) Install aerators on bathroom faucets—1.2 gallons per person per day.
2) Turning off water when brushing teeth or shaving—10 gallons per person per day.
3) Fixing leaky toilets saves 30 to 50 gallons per day per toilet.
4) Installing a high-efficiency watersense toilet (1.28 gallons per flush) saves 19 gallons per person per day.
5) Washing only full loads of clothes saves 15-45 gallons per load.
6) Taking 5 minute versus 10 minute showers saves 12.5 gallons.
7) Installing efficient watersense shower heads saves 1.2 gallons per minute or 10 gallons.

Typical water use at home

Bath	A "full tub" varies, of course, but 36 gallons is good average amount. Tip: Taking a shower instead of a bath should save a good bit of water.
Shower	Old showers used to use up to 5 gallons of water per minute. Water-saving shower heads produce about 2 gallons per minute. Tip: Taking a shorter shower using a low-flow showerhead saves lots of water.
Teeth Brushing	<1 gallon. Newer bath faucets use about 1 gallon per minute, whereas older models use over 2 gallons. Tip: Simply turn the faucet off when brushing teeth.
Hands/Face Washing	1 gallon. Tip: Simply turn the faucet off before drying your hands and face. If you don't mind a brisk wash, don't run the faucet until it gets hot before using it. Installing a faucet-head aerator will also reduce the water flow rate.
Face/Leg Shaving	1 gallon. Tip: Simply turn the faucet off when shaving.
Dishwasher	6-16 gallons. Newer, Energy Star models use 6 gallons or less per wash cycle, whereas older dishwashers might use up to 16 gallons per cycle. Tip: EnergyStar dishwashers not only save a lot of water but also save electricity.
Dish Washing by hand	About 8-27 gallons. This all depends on how efficient you are at hand-washing dishes. Newer kitchen faucets use about 1.5-2 gallons per minutes, whereas older faucets use more. Tip: Efficient hand-washing techniques include installing an aerator in your faucet head and scraping food off, soaking dishes in a basin of soapy water before getting started, and not letting the water run while you wash every dish. And it's best to have two basins to work in--one with hot, soapy water and the other with warm water for a rinse.
Clothes: Washing Machine	25 gallons/load for newer washers. Older models might use about 40 gallons per load. Tip: EnergyStar clothes washers not only save a lot of water but also save electricity.
Toilet Flush	3 gallons. Most all new toilets use 1.6 gallons per flush, but many older toilets used about 4 gallons. Tip:Check for toilet leaks! Adjust the water level in your tank. But, best to install a new low-flow toilet.
Glasses of water you drink	8 oz. per small glass (not counting water for Fido or your cats). Also, note that you will be using water for cooking.
Outdoor watering	2 gallons per minute, depending on the force of your outdoor faucet. This may not sound like too much but the large size of lawns and yards means outdoor water use can be a significant use of water.