What is Average?
The water industry estimates that an average person uses 3,000 gallons of water monthly, so a family of 4 would use 12,000 gallons for bathing, cooking, washing, recreation and watering. But a lot of factors come into play when calculating average use.
So in reality, one person's usage may be a lot higher or lower than another
person's. Here are some things to think about, if you suspect your water bill
is too high.
Households with lawns or gardens must factor in the amount of
water sprinkled on grass, flowers and vegetables. Outdoor watering
uses 5 to 10 gallons per minute. So in 10 or 20 minutes, you may use
200 gallons! This is the amount industry experts estimate is used by an
average person each day for all personal water needs. If the climate
turns unseasonably dry, expect to use even more water to keep your
garden alive and your grass green.
The number of people in the household is an important factor. Water
use generally rises if your family grows.
A family with fashion conscious teenagers probably washes more
clothes more often than an older person who lives alone. More water
is used per load when the machine is set on high.
If you take a bath, you will use about 42 gallons of water,
compared with the 17 gallons required for a shower. New shower
heads, however, reduce the water used in an average shower to just
2 gallons per minute versus 5 or 6 gallons that spurt out
of older shower heads.
One toilet flush will use 5 to 7 gallons unless it is in a new home where
1.5 gallon commodes are required.
Simple things to do that will conserve gallons on a monthly basis
Other Ways to Conserve Water Throughout Your Home
In the Bathroom
In the Kitchen
In the Laundry
The water industry estimates that an average person uses 3,000 gallons of water monthly, so a family of 4 would use 12,000 gallons for bathing, cooking, washing, recreation and watering. But a lot of factors come into play when calculating average use.
So in reality, one person's usage may be a lot higher or lower than another
person's. Here are some things to think about, if you suspect your water bill
is too high.
Households with lawns or gardens must factor in the amount of
water sprinkled on grass, flowers and vegetables. Outdoor watering
uses 5 to 10 gallons per minute. So in 10 or 20 minutes, you may use
200 gallons! This is the amount industry experts estimate is used by an
average person each day for all personal water needs. If the climate
turns unseasonably dry, expect to use even more water to keep your
garden alive and your grass green.
The number of people in the household is an important factor. Water
use generally rises if your family grows.
A family with fashion conscious teenagers probably washes more
clothes more often than an older person who lives alone. More water
is used per load when the machine is set on high.
If you take a bath, you will use about 42 gallons of water,
compared with the 17 gallons required for a shower. New shower
heads, however, reduce the water used in an average shower to just
2 gallons per minute versus 5 or 6 gallons that spurt out
of older shower heads.
One toilet flush will use 5 to 7 gallons unless it is in a new home where
1.5 gallon commodes are required.
Simple things to do that will conserve gallons on a monthly basis
- Turn off the faucet while you are brushing your teeth Save 5 - 10 gal/person/day
- Install a faucet aerator on your bathroom sink Save 5 - 10 gal/person/day
- Install a faucet aerator on your kitchen sink Save 10 - 20 gal/day
- Install a toilet tummy in your toilet tank Save 5 - 10 gal/person/day
Other Ways to Conserve Water Throughout Your Home
In the Bathroom
- Install a water-saving shower head. Older heads use 5-10 gallons per minute (gpm). All new fixtures use approximately 2.5 gpm and offer equal water coverage and force.
- Many high water consumption problems stem from toilets which slowly leak water because of bad valves, improperly positioned float arms or defective overflow tubes.
- Consider installing a high efficiency toilet (HET) that only uses 1.28 gallons/flush.
In the Kitchen
- Rinse dishes, vegetables and fruits in a filled basin, rather than under running water.
- Water your plants with left-over rinse water. (Plants also love fish tank water!)
- Wash only full loads in the dishwasher. Use the "light wash" setting when possible.
- Consider buying a high efficiency dishwasher that will save water and energy.
- Keep a jug of chilled water in the refrigerator for drinking to avoid running the water until it gets cold.
In the Laundry
- Wash only full loads of clothing.
- Hand wash single garments.
- Consider buying a high efficiency washing machine that will save water and energy.
