Do you know how much water you use each day? It’s not something the average person generally spends much time thinking about, but the numbers may surprise you.
Between our morning showers, glasses of water, and the water we use to clean dishes and laundry, the average American household uses an average of 80 to 100 gallons of water per day at home.
At Indiana American Water, we take great pride in what we do and hold ourselves to the highest standards in delivering safe, clean, reliable, and affordable drinking water to our customers. However, keeping tabs on how much we use water can help us all recognize ways to conserve more of it. Lowering the amount of water that your household uses is good for the environment, and it also saves some of your hard-earned money by reducing your water bill.
In our most recent blog, the professionals at Indiana American Water discuss common water usage statistics, as well as some tips to save water.
Water Usage by the Numbers
Here’s a look at how much water we typically consume in some of our daily activities:
- A full bath: About 36 gallons
- A 10-minute shower: 20 gallons
- Average daily toilet flushes: 19 to 24 gallons
- A washing machine load: 15 gallons
- Average dishwasher cycle: 4 to 10 gallons
- Drinking water: 1 gallon
- Hygiene: About 3 gallons
Tips for Conserving More Water
Each drop adds up. Did you know the average home wastes enough water from plumbing leaks in a year to fill up an entire backyard swimming pool? It’s estimated that one in 10 homes have leaks that waste 90 or more gallons each day. The average family, meanwhile, wastes about 180 gallons of water per week from household water leaks, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.
Fortunately, your household could get its water usage back on track with a few simple tips.
Fixing leaks
Fixing leaks is the number-one way to decrease water usage. Repairing running toilets or leaky sinks is often a DIY job. Replacing the plunger ball or flapper valve can typically fix a leaking toilet, while a dripping sink is often caused by a worn or improperly fitted washer. If you notice leaking around your dishwasher, washer, refrigerator or hot water heater, then it’s a good idea to call a professional for repair services.
Replacing old toilets
Replacing the old toilets in your home can have a huge impact on your annual water use. Upgrading to water-efficient, WaterSense-labeled toilets can save a family 13,000 gallons of water and $130 in water costs per year.
Replacing inefficient bathroom faucets and showerheads
Upgrading your old, inefficient bathroom faucets and aerators with water-efficient models can save a family $250 in water and electricity costs over the faucets’ lifetime, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Replacing old shower heads with water-efficient models can save a family more than 2,700 gallons of water per year.
Other simple water-saving tips
Here are some other simple water-saving tips to think about:
- Running the dishwasher only when it’s full can save a family about 320 gallons of water per year.
- Turning off the tap while you brush your teeth can save nearly 5,700 gallons per year.
- Turning your faucet off while washing dishes in the sink can save 10 gallons of water each time.
- Only water the grass when absolutely necessary, as outdoor water use can account for 30 percent of a home’s total water usage.
Indiana American Water is Committed to Water Conservation
We are dedicated to helping our customers to use water wisely as part of their daily routine. Contact us today at 1-800-492-8373 for more information about how to conserve water or to speak to a representative about your water account. Additional information on wise water use is available online on our website.
