Average Daily Water Use

Being aware of how much water you and your family use is the first step in conservation. On average, each individual uses about 50 gallons of water each day. You can determine your average daily water use by using one of the following two methods:

Metered Water

If your water use is metered, review your water bill. Easton Suburban Water Authority bills in water "units" equal to 750 gallons each. Divide your water usage by the number of days in the billing period and also by the number of residents in your household.

Unmetered Water

If your water use is not metered, you must determine your water use for each fixture. Flow rates for showers and faucets can be measured by using a container and watch to measure to amount of water discharged through the fitting in a minute. You can approximate toilet use per flush by measuring the volume of water inside the toilet tank (width x length x height) and dividing by 231. (There are 231 cubic inches in a gallon of water). After you have determined the water use of each fixture, you will need to record the number of uses and the length of time each fixture is used to determine your average daily water use. Remember to estimate the amount of water used by appliances such as clothes washers and dishwashers as well as home water treatment systems.