What Uses the Most Water at Home?

Of course, the answer to this question varies depending on where you live, your family's habits, and the makeup of your family. Average household water consumption is approximately 40 m3 (1 m3 = 1,000 liters) per year per person, with personal hygiene and household chores using the most water at home.

Water consumption of household appliances

Of course, the dishwasher and washing machine have freed women from household chores (well, let us say they make household chores easier, because according to statistics, the division of chores is still not really equal…), but these household appliances require enormous amounts of water to operate (as well as electricity).

Depending on the selected program, your dishwasher uses between 25 and 40 liters of water per cycle, and alone accounts for 6 % of a household's total consumption.

Your washing machine uses between 70 and 120 liters per cycle, or 12 % of a household's consumption. So forget half-empty loads and make the most of each wash !

In numbers :

• Dishwasher : water consumption : approximately 20 euros per year per person. Or approximately 50 euros per year for a family with 2 children.
• Washing machine : water consumption : approximately 25 euros per year per person. Or approximately 60 euros per year for a family with 2 children.

Water consumption for human activities in France

Source : Centre d’information sur l’eau

Water consumption for washing and personal hygiene

Did you know ? Here are some water consumption figures:

• Toilets : 6 to 12 liters of water per flush
• Washing dishes by hand : 10 to 30 liters of water (and no, you should not leave the water running ! ideally, wet the dishes, turn off the faucet while you soap them, then rinse them !)
• Shower : 30 to 60 liters of water (of course, this assumes you do not spend 15 min in the shower daydreaming or singing ! You can also save more by turning off the water while you soap up or apply shampoo: a small step that can save nearly 20 liters per shower !)
• Bath : 120 to 200 liters of water
• Washing the car : approximately 200 liters of water
• Watering the garden : 1,000 to 2,000 liters per hour !

Indirect water consumption

Add to these already impressive figures “indirect” water consumption, meaning the water used to manufacture everyday objects or produce our food. Total indirect water consumption reaches nearly 2,000 m3 per year per person in France !

To these figures, we must add communal uses: schools, hospitals, street cleaning, watering green spaces, uses in the workplace…

In short, water is slipping through our fingers, and it is urgent to become aware of our consumption so we can reduce it ! To reduce your water consumption, read our article 7 Tips to Reduce Your Water Consumption.