Water is a basic necessity and permeates every facet of our daily lives, but we rarely think about it. In this article, we delve into the four primary water uses in American households, showcasing their significance as a percentage of the total average water consumption according to the EPA.
When considering your water usage, which part of your everyday activities do you think utilizes the most water?
Cooking
Laundry
Hygiene Routines
Drinking Water
1. Cooking
5% of Total Usage
The kitchen accounts for 5% of the average American household’s water use. From rinsing vegetables to simmering sauces, water plays an integral role in crafting culinary delights. While relatively modest in terms of consumption, adopting water-efficient practices such as using dishwashers only when full and turning off the faucet during food preparation can harmonize your cooking with resource preservation.
Quick Tip: Use a drain stopper when washing vegetables, and use the collected water for your plants.
2. Laundry
17% of total usage
Laundry day, a cornerstone of household upkeep accounts for about 17% of the average American household’s water use. Washing and rinsing clothes constitute a significant portion of water consumption. While modern washing machines have streamlined this task, optimizing their efficiency by selecting appropriate load sizes and using energy-efficient models can elevate cleanliness while respecting water resources.
Quick Tip: Wait until you have a full load before running your washing machine. This reduces the number of cycles and saves water and energy. Also, turn off the second rinse cycle setting that many washing machines have.
3. Hydration
14% of total usage
Drinking water accounts for 14% of the average American household’s water usage. Drinking water is obviously essential, it is important to understand its contribution to total water use.
Quick Tip: Buy a reusable water bottle and choose tap water over bottled water. This not only reduces plastic waste but also encourages responsible water consumption.
4. Bathroom Use
44% of total usage
Not surprisingly, bathroom use constitutes about 40% of the average American household’s water usage. Showering, brushing teeth, and flushing toilets are the biggest drivers of water consumption in American homes.
Quick Tip: Take shorter showers and use a low-flow showerhead to reduce water usage.
Leaks – the missing slice of the pie - account for about 15% of water usage in American households
Leaky toilets, faucets, and showerheads can easily waste hundreds of gallons daily. Regularly inspecting your fixtures and promptly fixing any leaks can result in substantial water savings in your household.
Manual inspection is impractical when it comes to multi-family apartment buildings. A great way to combat leaks is to use an automatic leak detection system on every fixture in every apartment, such as DrizzleX, which can.. be used in any apartment building regardless of the building or plumbing layout. Get in touch with DrizzleX team to lower your water bills now.
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