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Wondering how much water the average household function consumes? Read on to find out and also for tips on saving water.
BY THE NUMBERS
Figures are averages in gallons per California household per day unless otherwise noted.
Indoor: 175 (63,875 per year)
Outdoor: 254 (92,700 per year)
Percentage indoor use: 47 percent
Percentage outdoor use: 53 percent
Toilet flush:37.3 (2.76 gallons per flush; average number of flushes per person 4.76)
Shower: 34.3 (18 gallons 9 minutes per event)
Bath: 3.7
Faucet: 32.6
Dishwasher: 1.5
Laundry: 30.6 (30 per load)
Average water loss from leaks: 30.7
Other: 3.6
Irrigation: 22.4 (Amounts are variable based on lot size, frequency and other factors)
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WATER-SAVING TIPS
Toilets
Older models: 3.5-7 gallons per flush
Low-flush toilets: 1.4-2.8 gallons
Tip: Use graywater from other sources to flush; decrease flushing frequency
Shower
Usage: 18 gallons
Tip: Install low-flow shower heads. Take shorter showers for a savings of approximately 2.5 gallons per minute; collect shower water during warm-up in a bucket for reuse in the garden
Bathroom faucet
Usage: 2 gallons per minute
Tip: Turn off the tap while brushing teeth or shaving can save 200 gallons per month. Reuse graywater by collecting it in a basin for garden use or toilet flushing
Laundry
Traditional washing machines: 50 gallons per load
High-efficiency washers: less than 27 gallons per load
Tip: Install a laundry-to-garden gray water system
Dish washing
Open-tap washing: up to 20 gallons
Filling a sink or bowl and closing the tap: saves 10 gallons
Dishwasher: 2 gallons per cycle
Tip: Don’t rinse dishes prior to loading the dishwasher and save 10 gallons per load
Irrigation
Overhead sprinklers: 18.4 gallons per minute
Drip system: 2.5 gallons per minute
Tip: Water less frequently; plant drought-resistant gardens; install a graywater system to irrigate with laundry water; collect water when washing from faucets in basins to water plants; hand-water or switch to a drip system; water plants with rainwater collected in barrels from roof runoff
Swimming pool
A pool might need 4 inches of make-up water due to evaporation during the hottest time of the year — the equivalent of 2.5 gallons per square foot of pool surface. A 500-square-foot pool would require 1,250 gallons of water per week.
Tip: Eliminate swimming-pool use or install evaporation barriers for pools.
Sources: California Department of Water Resources 2011 California Single-Family Water Efficiency Study; U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
