Where Your Water Goes
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The average person uses approximately 60 gallons of water per day. That’s more than enough to fill two big bathtubs! (You use less if your home has water-saving showerheads, faucets, toilets, and a water-saving washing machine.)
On a typical day, here’s where your 60 gallons goes:
- 21 gallons (34%) is used for baths and showers.
- 18 gallons (29%) is used to flush the toilet.
- 12 gallons (19%) is used for laundry.
- 8 gallons (13%) is used in the kitchen.
- 3 gallons (5%) is used outdoors.
Some water isn’t put to use at all! The average family loses approximately 14% of their water usage through leaks. A water faucet that leaks one drip per second will waste about 2400 gallons per year, while a toilet that runs after flushing can waste up to 53,000 gallons of water in a year.
After water leaves your home, it is treated at a wastewater treatment plant or by your septic system. The water is cleaned and then released into the environment.
You can reduce your water use a lot by becoming more efficient. The next page shows you how. |

