The Quick Facts: Americans use water each day to drink, clean, bathe, flush toilets, cook, water lawns and gardens, and for recreation and other purposes. Water — a valuable resource — is also essential to life. To manage this resource properly and prepare for the future, it is important to know our current level of water use. Americans’ use of water affects our quality of life and the environment. Understanding household use of water can help make important decisions to conserve and use water more efficiently. Overall, awareness is the key to conserving water — a precious resource — and money.
Americans use water each day to drink, clean, bathe, flush toilets, cook, water lawns and gardens, and for recreation and other purposes. In addition, industry and agriculture also use water to provide products and essential services (such as electricity) for our daily lives. However, fresh water is a valuable natural resource for which agricultural, industrial, municipal, and environmental uses all compete. In fact, 36 states are now anticipating local, regional, or statewide water shortages by 2013.
How Much Water Do We Use and For What?
According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), there was a steady increase in water use in the United States between 1950 and 1980. Surprisingly, reported water withdrawals declined in 1985 and have remained relatively stable since then despite a steady increase in United States’ population. Further, water withdrawals in 1990 averaged 1,620 gallons per day per person; in 2000, the per person average declined to 1,430 gallons per day. Changes in technology, state and federal laws, and economic factors, along with increased awareness of the need for water conservation, have resulted in more efficient use of the water.
A USGS report shows that about 408 billion gallons of water per day were withdrawn for use in the United States during 2000. That is equal to the amount of water in over 27 million (27,102,431) above ground average backyard swimming pools! Water use varies greatly depending on geographic location and season, largely as a result of differences in climate. California, Texas, and Florida withdrew the most water. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Americans use an average of 100 gallons of water per person each day. For perspective, a gallon is likely the amount of milk in your refrigerator that may last your family a few days.
In the United States, thermoelectric-power plants accounted for most of the water use in 2000 with 48 percent of total withdrawals (195,000 million gallons per day or Mgal/d). The other most consumptive uses were: irrigation (137,000 Mgal/d), public suppliers (43,300 Mgal/d), and self-supplied industrial withdrawals (19,700 Mgal/d). Combined withdrawals for livestock, aquaculture, and mining were less than 3 percent of total withdrawals in 2000.
Water Use at Home
Many people are unaware of the water they use every day for various purposes in their homes. While it may be hard to know off-hand, a quick look at the water meter at the beginning of the day and at the end of the day can give you an idea. Also, completing water surveys and using water use calculators can help determine your family’s usage (example: http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/sq3.html).
It may be surprising that the largest use of household water is to flush the toilet, followed by taking showers and baths. According to USGS, some common and frequent household uses that consume water (with each occurrence) are:
- Bath: 50 gallons
- Shower: 2 gallons per minute
- Teeth brushing: 1 gallon
- Hands/face washing: 1 gallon
- Face/leg shaving: 1 gallon
- Dishwasher: 20 gallons/load
- Dishwashing by hand: 5 gallons/load
- Clothes washing (machine): 10 gallons/load
- Toilet flush: 3 gallons
(Note: visualize pouring gallons of milk down the drain for these uses!)
Role of Government in Water Use
Federal, state, and local governments and agencies collect and disseminate water-use data, as well as make decisions. Water resources, supply, and use data allows engineers, scientists, and policy makers to assess current and future water-use needs. Federal actions have helped promote water efficiency programs and legislation. For example, WaterSense, a partnership program sponsored by the EPA, promotes water-efficient products (through its WaterSense product label), partnerships for water efficiency, and provides tips to save water and protect the environment.
A bill introduced in October 2007 in the U.S. House of Representatives, “The Water Use Efficiency and Conservation Research Act” or H.R. 3957, aims to “increase research, development, education, and technology transfer activities related to water use efficiency and conservation technologies and practices at the Environmental Protection Agency.” The bill passed the House and awaits voting action in the US Senate. The Act expands the scope of EPA’s water research programs and directs EPA to address the nation’s water supply crisis.
In addition to federal action, state and local governments also contribute to solving water supply woes. Many local governments now have laws that specify that water faucets, toilets, and showers only allow a certain amount of water flow per minute.
Solutions and Tips
While water use has not changed dramatically with the increase of population, bigger homes, larger lawns, or more appliances, there is great potential for maintaining and expanding water supplies through more conservation. According to EPA, if all U.S. households installed water-efficient appliances, the country would save more than three trillion gallons of water and more than $17 billion dollars per year. In addition, the average American household could save 20,000 gallons of water per year with the installation of inexpensive low-flow showerheads. Similarly, a low-flush toilet could reduce household water use by an additional 34 percent. The American Water Works Association says installing more efficient water fixtures and regularly checking for leaks can reduce daily per person water use by about 35% to about 45.2 gallons per day.
Some additional ways to save water (and money):
- Put the plug on leaks: Check your water using appliances and devices for leaks. Studies have shown homes can waste more than 10% due to leaks. Don’t forget to check your irrigation system.
- Replace old toilets: If your home was built before 1992 and the toilet has never been replaced, then it is very likely that you do not have a water-efficient 1.6 gallon per flush toilet.
- Replace your clothes washer: Buy an Energy Star rated washer with a Water Factor at or lower than 9.5.
- Plant and Landscape properly: Yards with 100% lawn turf area in a dry desert climate uses significant amounts of water; consider Xeriscaping and natural or wild-scaping.
- Proper watering: only water plants in your garden when needed; use timers for irrigation systems (don’t forget to turn them off during rain or rainy periods)
- Recycle it: Never put water down the drain when there may be another use for it such as cleaning or watering a plant or garden. Consider installing rain barrels in your yard.
- Check Inside and Out: While indoor water use is high in households, more than half of outdoor water use is for watering lawns and gardens. Conserve water outside using garden hose nozzles, a broom to clean your driveway, a sprinkler timer, and a screwdriver as a soil probe to test soil moisture (if you can push it easily into your lawn for several inches, don’t water)
Overall, awareness is the key to conserving water — a precious resource — and money.
For other related Real Mama Articles see:
Pharmaceuticals in the Environment
What is the Message in a Bottle (of Water)?
Going Green: How to Get a Healthy Looking Lawn Without Jeopardizing the Health of Your Children or the Environment
Water Worry: Is Your Tap Water Safe?
At Home Water Conservation
Information used in this article is based on the following advisory document and the advice of the team of air quality and health experts that developed it:
http://www.nationalatlas.gov/articles/water/a_wateruse.html (National Atlas of the United States, Article: “Water Use in the United States”)
http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/wateruse2000.html (United States Geological Survey, by Deborah S. Lumia, Kristin S. Linsey, and Nancy L. Barber, “Summary of Water Use in the United States, 2000”)
http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/qausage.html (United States Geological Survey, “Water Q&A: Water use”)
http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/qahome.html (United States Geological Survey, “Water Q&A: Water use at home”)
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E02E6D6113EF933A25752C1A96E958260 (The New York Times, “Expectation Aside, Water Use in US is Showing Decline,” by William K. Stevens, November 10, 1998)
http://www.usatoday.com/news/2004-03-11-water-usat_x.htm (USA Today, “Americans Use Less Water,” by Patrick O’Driscoll, March 11, 2004)
http://www.h2ouse.org/ (California Urban Water Conservation Council, Water Budget Calculator, Virtual Tour of a Home Showing Ways to Save Water, Water Saver Home)
http://www.waterconservationschool.com/fiftyways.htm (The Water Conservation School, “50 Ways to Save Water”)
http://www.epa.gov/watersense/ (US Environmental Protection Agency, WaterSense Program, water-saving products, tips, and rebate programs; outdoor water use in the United States)
http://www.enviroliteracy.org/category.php/14.html (Environmental Literacy Council, “Water Use”)
http://science.house.gov/press/PRArticle.aspx?NewsID=2029 (US House of Representatives Committee on Science, Subcommittee on Energy and Environment, “Water-Use Efficiency Technologies Focus of Subcommittee Work,” Press Release, October 30, 2007)
http://www.wateruseitwisely.com (Water Use It Wisely: Water conservation tips and resources, family water audit, outdoor water saving tips, “100 Water Saving Tips for Regions Throughout the US”)
