Many Americans are taking a closer look at ways to be more environmentally friendly. This can include recycling, buying second-hand, and conserving water. The latter is something Indiana American Water takes very seriously.
Indiana American Water is committed to ensuring there is enough water available for future generations and providing water conservation tips to help homeowners like you save water and lower your water bills.
To conserve water, though, it’s important to know how much water you’re using. In our most recent blog, the professionals at Indiana American Water discuss how much water the average family uses and tips to help conserve water.
How Much Water Does the Average Family Use?
From brushing your teeth to making a cup of coffee, water is an important part of your daily life. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, an official government organization, the average American family uses about 300 gallons of water per day, or about 88 gallons per person.
Usage does vary greatly across the country; however, mostly because of the difference in climate and weather patterns. In drier areas of the country that rely more on irrigation for outdoor watering because of the relative scarcity of precipitation, the typical household uses more water than in the midwestern portion of the country. The typical Indiana American Water household uses about 4,000 gallons per month, or about 50 gallons per day, per person.
About 70% of water usage occurs inside the home through bathing, washing clothes, brushing teeth, flushing the toilet, etc.; about 30% of water usage is used outside to water grass and plants.
Here’s a breakdown of where the most water is consumed inside homes.
- Toilets: 24%
- Showers: 20%
- Faucets: 19%
- Washing Machine: 17%
- Leaks: 12%
- Other: 8%
How Much Water Should Families Be Using?
Because every family and home has different needs, it’s hard to estimate exactly how much water each person should use per day. However, it’s a good idea to try and use less than the average of 50 gallons per person each day here in the midwestern area of the United States. There are many simple ways to reduce water usage, which we’ll discuss in the next section.
How to Lower Your Daily Water Usage?
By following some of these water-saving tips, you’ll be surprised at how much your monthly water bill drops.
Install Products with WaterSense Labels
WaterSense is an EPA-sponsored program created by the United States Government that sets criteria for performance and efficiencies for products. WaterSense-labeled products are 20% more water efficient than standard models on average. You can buy WaterSense-backed products for any of the following products: residential toilets, shower heads, bathroom faucets, washing machines, commercial toilets, urinals, and outdoor water usage systems like spray sprinkler bodies, and irrigation controllers.
Replacing your old toilet models with WaterSense-labeled models can save 13,000 gallons of water per year, which is the equivalent of about $130. Replacing inefficient bathroom faucets can lead to an average savings of $250 over the faucets’ lifetime.
WaterSense-backed shower heads, meanwhile, can reduce a family’s water consumption by 2,700 gallons each year.
Fix Leaks
Household plumbing leaks can be a huge water waster. The EPA estimates that household leaks add up to about 180 gallons of wasted water per year at a cost of about $70. Check your pipes periodically to find small leaks before they become big ones and monitor the usage on your bill to look for unusual usage patterns. If you think you might have a leak in your plumbing system, download our Leak Detection Kit to learn more about locating and fixing leaks.
Water the Grass Less Frequently
This kind of outdoor water use can be incredibly wasteful, so try and only water when your grass really needs it. Grass only needs about an inch of water per week during the summer months.
Use a Water Use Calculator
A water use calculator allows you to input your home’s water use information and offers tips for saving household water and energy. Check out the Alliance for Water Efficiency’s online water calculator to learn more.
Other Easy Tips
Other ways to use less water include:
- Run the dishwasher only when it’s full. If you have a water-saver cycle, use it.
- Turn the faucet off while brushing your teeth or washing dishes in the sink.
- Take shorter showers.
- Adjust the water level of your washing machine to match the size of the load.
Indiana American Water Is Helping Hoosiers Use Water Wisely
Indiana American Water cares about the environment and keeping our customers’ water usage and energy bills as low as possible. With climate variability increasing, natural disasters are causing more water shortages across the country, so it’s important to do our part to conserve water. For more information about wise water use or detecting leaks, view the Wise Water Use section of our website.