The average person consumes about 142 litres of water each day. Compared to Germany, where the daily average is 121 litres, it’s evident that our water usage is on the higher side. Many assume that regular rainfall guarantees an endless supply, but using water efficiently remains crucial.

Setting a Water Usage Target

While the current average is 142 litres per day, a more sustainable goal would be 100 litres. Achieving this might sound challenging, but it’s possible with some simple adjustments to everyday habits. To better understand your consumption, it helps to break down the water used for common household activities.

Estimating Your Water Consumption

Here’s a look at the typical amount of water used for various tasks:

• Toilet flush: 6 litres
• Running a bathroom tap: 6 litres per minute
• One-minute shower: 12-15 litres
• Washing-up bowl: roughly 9 litres
• Dishwasher (eco setting): 10 litres
• Washing machine cycle: 50 litres on average
• Filling a cooking pot: 1-15 litres, depending on size
• Glass of water: approximately 240ml
• Bath: 100 litres when filled just over halfway

By adding up these activities, you can get a sense of your daily water consumption. For instance, flushing the toilet three times a day uses 18 litres. Letting the tap run for two minutes while brushing your teeth adds another 12 litres. If you take a 5-10 minute shower, that’s an additional 60-150 litres. With a dishwasher cycle and a load of laundry, daily usage can easily surpass 150 litres.

Managing Water Usage

Tracking daily usage can be daunting, so it’s helpful to think in terms of a weekly goal. Targeting 100 litres a day translates to 700 litres a week. Begin by accounting for essentials like short showers and necessary toilet flushes, which could total around 70 litres daily. This leaves 30 litres for other uses.

Saving some water on lighter usage days can allow for higher consumption when needed, like running a washing machine. Planning can help ensure you stay within the target without major lifestyle changes. Achieving the right balance between necessary activities and mindful conservation can significantly reduce water use while maintaining comfort.

For additional strategies on managing your water usage, visit ATSPACE’s blog on how to save water.