Most of us use water dozens of times per day without really even thinking about it. From showering to boiling a kettle, to watering the garden or flushing the toilet, water plays a major role in our everyday lives.
But how much water does your household actually use each month?
It’s more than you might think. Even single-person homes can easily use several thousand litres of water every month, with larger households using closer to 14,000 litres. Tracking your monthly water use helps you understand how to cut waste, reduce bills, and make informed decisions around your water usage.
How Much Water Does the Average Household Use?
Water stats from the Consumer Council for Water (CCW) show the average individual uses just over 139 litres of water per day. That includes showering, flushing toilets, doing dishes, laundry, cooking and cleaning.
Household consumption obviously increases when you have multiple occupants. Here’s the average monthly water usage by number of persons in the household:
- 1 person: 4.6 m³ (4,600 litres) per month
- 2 people: 8.5 m³ (8,500 litres) per month
- 3 people: 11.1 m³ (11,100 litres) per month
- 4 people: 13.7 m³ (13,700 litres) per month
- 5 people: 15.9 m³ (15,900 litres) per month
- 6 people: 18.0 m³ (18,000 litres) per month
Remember, 1 cubic metre (1m³) is equal to 1,000 litres of water.
Think about that for a second. A family of four uses almost 14,000 litres of water every month, which is equivalent to roughly 170 full baths.
And of course, your water usage does depend on many factors, from lifestyle and appliances to property size and water efficiency behaviours. So where does all that water go? And is it possible to use less?
Where Does All That Water Go?
The average homeowner will severely underestimate their monthly water use if they aren’t keeping track. Daily water usage is made up of a series of different activities, from cooking and cleaning, to running appliances and flushing toilets, with every aspect of our day effecting water usage.
Showers and Baths
Personal washing is by far the biggest use of water in the home. A full bath can use up to 80 litres of water, while an average shower can use between 13 and 15 litres per minute.
Toilets
Flushing the toilet is another big hit for water consumption. Older toilets can use up to 13 litres per flush, but most newer toilets these days are dual-flush.
Washing Machines and Dishwashers
Running the dishwasher or washing machine are usual suspect of water usage. Newer machines tend to be more water-efficient, but an average machine can still use between 50 and 80 litres per cycle.
Cooking, Cleaning and Day-to-Day Tasks
Leaving the tap running while brushing your teeth or washing dishes are often things people don’t take into consideration, along with filling a kettle full of water. And when combined, it can make up hundreds of litres of water per month.
Leaks
One of the biggest causes of unnecessary water usage is leakage.
A dripping tap might seem harmless, but over time it can waste thousands of litres of water every year. Even minor leaks around the home can significantly increase both water consumption and bills.
Why Does Water Usage Vary?
Every home is different, which means water usage varies from household to household. Here are some factors that might affect the amount of water you use each month:
Number of occupants
The more people living under one roof, the more water your household will likely consume. More occupants equal more showers, laundry loads, dishes and meals.
Lifestyle habits
Likewise, some homes naturally use more water than others. Long showers, baths, and multiple loads of laundry each week all use more water.
Home and garden size
Larger properties generally equate to more cleaning, cooking, laundry, watering etc. Gardens can also contribute massively to water usage.
Fixtures and appliances
Water-efficient appliances save water and money. Energy-efficient toilets, shower heads and taps are just some of the ways you can instantly reduce your water footprint.
Area of the UK
Finally, where you live can impact your water use. Across England and Wales, average daily usage per person varies depending on the region, with Northern Ireland and Scotland being similar.
How To Reduce Water Usage
Reducing water waste is simple, once you know where to start. Whether that’s installing water-efficient shower heads and taps, repairing leaky faucets or shortening your showers. Every dripping tap is a waste of water, and every litre saved helps.
Fix Leaky Taps
Even the slowest drip can waste hundreds of litres of water per year. If you’ve got leaky taps or suspect hidden leaks in your plumbing, now is the time to fix them.
Reduce Shower Times
Taking a 5-minute shower instead of a 10-minute shower could save you thousands of litres of water every year.
Only Run Full Loads
Run your washing machine and dishwasher only when full. Every load you skip helps.
Install Water-Efficient Fixtures
Invest in water-efficient appliances and fixtures where possible. Water-efficient toilets, shower heads and taps can drastically cut water usage.
Switch Off Taps
Remember to turn off that tap. Simple habits like brushing teeth with the tap turned off can save excess water wastage.
Make Every Drop Count
When it comes to water, we believe every little helps. But did you know the type of water in your home can make a difference too?
Hard water is common throughout the UK, impacting everything from hair and skin, to home appliances like kettles and boilers. While hard water isn’t harmful to drink, it does contribute to lime-scale build-up throughout your property.
Here are just a few of the benefits of installing a Halcyan Water Conditioner:
Help Reduce Scale Build-Up
Limescale can accumulate inside appliances such as kettles, boilers, washing machines, dishwashers and pipework. Build-up can cause a host of issues and impact efficiency.
A Halcyan conditioner helps reduce these problems by using advanced water conditioning technology. Working without chemicals or salts, homeowners can enjoy softer water without monthly maintenance bills.
Experience Softer Skin and Hair
It’s not uncommon for people in hard water areas to suffer from skin irritations or dry/flaky hair. Using conditioned water can help improve your shower experience and leave your skin and hair feeling much softer.
Clean Homes, Easier
Hard water can leave residue marks on your taps, shower screens, sinks and tiles. By helping prevent limescale build-up, water conditioners can help keep your home cleaner for longer.
Running efficiently
As scale builds up in your appliances and pipes it can cause decreased efficiency and potentially costly maintenance. By installing a water conditioner, you can help improve the efficiency of household appliances.
It’s water without the waste.
Final Word
The average household uses between 8.5 and 13.7 cubic metres of water per month. An average two-person household could easily pass 9 cubic metres of water (9m³) each calendar month, yet we rarely know where this water goes. Taking shorter showers and turning off the tap are simple solutions that could help.
But it’s not just about wasting less water, it’s about making sure you’re enjoying the best quality water too. Hard water affects homeowners throughout the UK and can cause build-up in pipes, leaving skins dry and hair lifeless.
Halcyan Water Conditioners can help reduce the effects of hard water using innovative technology. Easy to install, maintain and better for the environment too.
