Water Usage - Per Person

When a customer receives a high bill reflecting increased water usage, assistance can be provided by discussing how excessive water can be used when guests are visiting, teenagers take long showers, watering lawns or shrubs, filling the swimming pool, renovation work at the property, or malfunctioning plumbing fixtures or service lines.

Historically, our residential customer water usage patterns have indicated that normal water consumption increases as follows:

Each Person = 70 to 80 gallons per day (g.p.d.)

# of People g.p.d. Total Yield in gallons
1 80  x 30 days = 2,100 to 2,400 monthly
2 140-160  x 90 days = 12,600 to 14,400 quarterly
 x 30 days = 4,200 to 4,800 monthly
3 210-240  x 90 days = 18,900 to 21,600 quarterly
 x 30 days = 6,600 to 7,200 monthly
4 280-320  x 90 days = 25,200 to 28,800 quarterly
 x 30 days = 8,400 to 9,900 monthly
5 350-400  x 90 days = 31,500 to 36,000 quarterly
 x 30 days = 10,500 to 12,000 monthly

PSW offers appointments to its residential customers for an experienced High-Consumption Inspector to examine their properties and help pinpoint sources of increased water usage.  These appointments are available Monday through Friday and involves no fee to our customers.  A Hi-C Inspection is generally made if the customer received a high bill, claims no changes in daily routine and questions the cause of increased water usage.

Common Residential Usage of Water

  Normal Use Conservative Use
Shower Water Running - 25 gal. Wet down, soap up, rinse off - 4 gal.
Brushing Teeth Tap Running - 10 gal. Wet brush, rinse briefly - 1/2 gal.
Tub Bath Full - 50 gal. Minimal water level - 10 to 12 gal.
Shaving Tap Running - 20 gal. Fill Basin - 1 gal.
Dish Washing Tap Running - 30 gal. Wash & Rinse in Dishpan or Sink - 5 gal.
Auto Dishwashing Full Cycle - 16 gal. Short Cycle - 7 gal.
Washing Hands Tap Running - 2 gal. Fill Basin - 1 gal.
Toilet Flushing Depending on Tank Size - 5 to 7 gal. Using Tank Displacement bottom - 4 to 6 gal.
Water Saver Toilets - 2 to 3 gal.
Washing Machine Full Cycle, Top Water Level - 60 gal. Short Cycle, Minimal Water Level - 27 gal.
Outdoor Average Hose - 10 gal. per minute. Lowest Priority - Eliminate
Sprinkler System 80 gallons per 3 minutes or 27 gallons per minute  

Water Conservation

Tips for saving water now and throughout the year

Water is a precious resource. It’s important for all of us to save water throughout the year, but especially during dry spells.

 

In the Bathroom: In the Laundry:
bullet Over ¾ of the water used indoors is used in the bathroom – conservation efforts here can make a big difference!
 
bullet Take shorter showers.
 
bullet Turn off the water while brushing your teeth or shaving.
 
bullet Repair leaking faucets and toilets.
 
bullet Install low-flow aerators and showerheads.
 
bullet Don’t use the toilet as a trash can – avoid unnecessary flushes
 
bullet Run washing machines only when full.
 
bullet Allow heavily soiled clothes to soak in the washing machine to avoid multiple washes.
 
  In the Kitchen:
Winter Water Conservation Tip:

             

Winterize outdoor spigots to avoid pipes bursting from freezing

 

 

 
bullet Install a faucet aerator.
 
bullet Refrigerate a bottle of drinking water rather than running the water until it is cold enough to drink.
bullet Use a dishpan or fill up the sink for washing and rinsing dishes.
 
bullet Throw food waste into the trash, not the sink’s garbage disposal.


Conservation Information
 
  • A leaking water fixture can waste 200 gallons each day. Low-flow showerheads use 40% to 50% less water than conventional fixtures.
  • Use a toilet tank dye tablet to discover silent and costly tank leaks. Fix the leak or install a low-flow toilet to save 20% to 50% of water used by conventional methods.
  • In-sink garbage disposals use a great deal of water and add unnecessary solids to the sewer or septic system. Vegetable waste can be added to a compost pile to benefit your garden.
  • A short shower saves 5 to 7 gallons per minute and uses 1/3 the amount of water a bath takes. Filling the bathtub halfway saves 10 to 15 gallons.

 


For more information, please call the Montgomery County Health Department
(610) 678-5117