Fast Facts

leaky_faucet by Maegan Tintari/ CC BY-SA 2.0

How much water does the average American consume each day?

A. 25 gallons
B. 50 gallons
C. 100 gallons
D. 175 gallons

The correct answer is C. According to the USGS, average Americans consume 80–100 gallons of water per day. Here’s how it breaks down:

• To take a bath: 20–36 gallons
• To take a shower: 2–2.5 gallons/minute (4 gallons/minute for older shower heads)
  
• To brush your teeth: 1 gallon/minute
  
• To wash your hands: 1 gallon/minute 
  
• To wash dishes in the dishwasher: 20 gallons/load
  
• To wash dishes by hand: 1–2 gallons/minute
  
• To flush toilet: 1.2–1.6 gallons/flush for new toilets
  

And, of course, 1/2 gallon to all of those who drink their recommended 64 oz. of water each day.

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