Water Uses

Individual water use is really a drop in the bucket. While per capita water use is about 1400 gallons per day in the U.S., the amount used directly by an individual is only a small part of that.

There are many regional differences in the amount of water used. In the West, most of the water is used for irrigation, while in the East more water is used by industry. Residential water use is affected not only by water conservation equipment, like low flow showerheads, but by personal actions, like the amount of time you spend in the shower.

The following questions will give you an idea about how you are doing at conserving water. Most of the questions deal with the type of water fixtures and appliances you have. Choose the answer that best describes your household.

1. Toilets: How much water does your toilet use?
   5-7 gallons (older toilets)
   2-4 gallons (typical toilet)
   1-2 gallons (water conserving toilet, any new toilet bought since 1994)
   If you have an older toilet, do you put a jug of water, a wrapped up brick or a "water dam" in the tank to displace some water?
   

2. How many baths a week do you take?
   How many showers a week do you take?
   What is your showerhead like?
   Old showerhead
   Old showerhead with a flow restrictor
   Low flow
   Water conserving showerhead
   

3. Clothes washing machine:
   standard vertical axis washing machine
   "suds saver" washing machine
   new "horizontal axis" washing machine
   

4. How do you wash dishes?
   By hand, without plugging the drain (with the water running the whole time)?
   By hand, filling the sink?
   With a standard dishwasher, and a full load?
   With a water saving dishwasher, and a full load?
   

5. Swimming Pool
   you cover your pool when you are not using it, using a solar blanket or other cover
   you leave it uncovered
   you don't have a pool
   

6. Lawn and garden maintenance
   More than 700 square feet
   Between 500 and 700 square feet
   Between 300 and 500 square feet
   Less then 300 square feet
   

7. Water reuse and recycling
   Do you have a greywater system in your house? Yes No
   Do you have a "rainfall harvesting" system? Yes No
   Does it have storage? Yes No
   

	Content by Bentham C. Paulos.
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