BEECHER - NAWC

Water ComparedIndustries ComparedWhile per capita usage patterns reveal the general relationship of usage relative to populationlevels, household usage provides a more specific measure of residential use. These dataindicate detectable growth in household energy consumption (both electricity and naturalgas). However, residential water use is very stable and many utilities anecdotally reportdeclines in average use. A plausible explanation is that household markets are well-saturated(so to speak) with water-using fixtures (such as bathroom fixtures, clothes washers, anddishwashers); relatively few new uses of water are being introduced to homes. In addition,efficiency-oriented plumbing standards, appliances, and landscaping practices gradually arereducing residential water needs.Single~Family Water Use(Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, 1993)Total use = 150 gallons per capita per dayOther outdoor use(7 gpd)5%Landscape ~irrigation (46 gpd)30%Indoor use65% Toilets (30 gpd)20%Showers/bath(27 gpd)18%Clothes washing~~r- (21 gpd)14%Cooking/cleaning(13 gpd)9%Dishwashing (6gpd)4%NAWC33September 1998