We all know that eight glasses of water we need to drink in a single day on average. However, are you think that, on average, the “water footprint” of an American is 32,911 glasses per day, which means 751,777 gallons of water per year (Source: The Nature Conservancy).
You worried like me about how a man can consume so much water in a day. 96% of this water is ‘Hidden Water’ used to grow, make things we eat, wear and indoor use, and generate electricity.
In recent days we have talked more about water, especially water conservation because earlier we know that the source of water is abundant. However, different studies say that only <1% of water is fresh and usable for humanity. Worldwide, about 1 billion people have no access to any drinking-water source. As a result, 1.6 million people die every year from diarrheal diseases (including cholera), of which 90% are children under 5.
So, before thinking about water conservation, we have to know how much water we use on average per day. According to USGS, estimates vary, but an average American uses 80-100 gallons of water per day, primarily for bathing, toilet flushes, dish-washing, and cloth washing.
How much water per day does the average person use
Bath
- A full tub bath required about 36 gallons of water
- Taking a shower instead of the tub may save a bit of water
Shower Use
- Old days shower uses water 5 gallons per minute
- BY using the water-saving shower, it reduces up to 2 GPM. On average, an American takes a shower for 8-10 minutes a day.
Tooth brushing
- Old faucet using about two GPM. of water
- New water-saving faucets use <1 GPM. You may save a little more water by turning off the tap during brushing.
Dishwasher
- Vary 6 -16 gallons per batch. The older model required 16 gallons of water per load.
- For newer energy star appliances, use 6 gallons or less per wash. Energy Star appliances also save lots of electricity.
- The new model dishwasher required more minor cycles to wash than the old one. A shorter period means they use less water and less energy.
Dishwashing by hand
- About 8 – 27 gallons. It depends on individual hand efficiency.
- The newer kitchen faucet used only 1.5 – 2 gallons of water. To save more water and bill, one can practice efficient hand dish-washing techniques.
Clothes washing
- The old model cloth washing device uses about 40 gallons of water per load.
- Newer models use 25 gallons of water per load and save electricity bills.
Toilet Flush
- Older models use about 3 gallons of water per flush
- New toilets use less than 1.6 gallons per flush. If you flush 6 -8 times a day, it requires about 12 gallons of water. By avoiding flushing waste in a toilet, you may reduce water use.
Daily Hygiene
- Hand/face/shaving/foot washing requires about 1 gallon of water per use
- By using a faucet head aerator, it can reduce further. Also, you can save some extra water by stopping and running the faucet as per your need.
Drinking water
- For drinking, an adult person requires eight glasses in a day. One glass equal to 8 oz.
- Besides this, you may need water for cooking and pet animals which is not counted here.
Outdoor watering
- It depends on the force of your outdoor faucet (usually two GPM.) and the size of your lawn.
- You can store rainwater and use them for lawn and garden watering. Also, you can use recycled grey water (shower, kitchen, or laundry wastewater) to save water use and bill. For rainwater harvest or use of recycled greywater, you may take expert help from your local municipal authority.
From the above water use chart, we may conclude that you required more than 200 gallons of water per person per day in an older version of a water faucet and appliance. In contrast, you need about 80 -90 gallons of water per day if you use new, improved faucet heads and devices.
Producing hot water using a water heater is the high contributing household cost for an American, varying it about 14-18% of utility bills. As per energy.gov, the average American household spends $400-$600 on water heating besides $300 on water bills.
By installing a Tankless water heater, you could save hot water use and protect your dollar and environment by emitting less greenhouse gas.
Water plays a significant role in our survival. Starting from brushing our teeth, taking a bath in the morning, water required to cooking and grow our daily foods, local business or industry, fire-fighting, municipal parks, public swimming pools, and cooling of nuclear plants all need lots of water.
Here we have shown a graphical presentation of daily water use for indoor purposes for better understanding.
Source: Water Research Foundation, Residential End Uses of Water, Version 2
Whenever we require water, we use just pressing the water tap. However, are we thinking a while from where the water comes from? How much is water usable for us? The primary freshwater sources are our local lakes, rivers, streams, and or underground aquifers. However, freshwater sources have become scarce due to environmental pollution and the continued drawdown of groundwater.
In research, the Conservancy scientist Brian Richter has shown that 2.7 billion people suffer from water scarcity every year for at least one month.
So, it’s time to take a step to save our precious water. By using new high-end appliances like faucet head aerators, energy start dishwashers, or tankless water heaters, you can conserve water and energy and reduce greenhouse emissions, thus saving your monthly expenses.
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