A Closer Look at Household Water Consumption

First, let's remember that one-third of the world's population has no access to drinking water! The figures we present therefore concern an average family living in a Western country.

How water consumption has changed over time

According to INSEE, daily water consumption per person was:

• 15 to 20 liters of water per day per person, estimated for the late 18^th century
• 106 liters per day per person in 1975
• 165 liters per day per person in 2004
• 151 l/day in 2008  
• 143 l per day in 2013, or 52.2 m³  
• 148 liters of water per day today

On average, a typical household uses 329 liters of water per day, or an annual total of 120 cubic meters. 

Of course, in the past, water was not scarce, at least in terms of quantity, but it was something you had to work for: you had to fetch water from a well or spring, go to the communal washhouse to do your laundry, carry cans or barrels… daily chores that meant water was conserved as a precious resource. 

But since drinking water entered homes with tap water available to everyone, people have become noticeably less careful… even though we have to pay our water bills, unfortunately, we no longer pay as much attention to how we use water—and often waste it. Turning on the faucet is so easy!

UN-Water report

Factors that influence water consumption

We have seen that the average French household (with 2.5 people!) uses 329 liters of water per day, or 120 cubic meters per year. Simply multiplying this figure by the number of people living under one roof would be too simplistic, because water use is not necessarily counted individually. While everyone takes showers, generally separately, a group of young siblings can often share one bath, and the water used to clean the house or wash vegetables should not be multiplied by the number of people, but counted for the family as a whole. Are you following?

Water consumption is therefore measured by use rather than by the number of residents, bearing in mind that the figures for cleaning, cooking, and using the dishwasher and washing machine are roughly the same in all families, whether there are two or 6 people.

Many factors affect water use

Of course, other factors also need to be considered when calculating household water consumption:

• Lifestyle: you may think these are stereotypes, but they aren't! Families of girls consume more water than male households, as do people who play sports, who consume an average of 204 liters per day: they drink more and probably shower more often, too…

• Vacations: you're enjoying the good life, the beach or the pool and… longer showers because you're not watching the clock, and it feels so nice to take a second quick shower after the beach, and why not a third just before heading out for a barbecue with friends! The average French person's water use on vacation rises to 230 liters per day! 

• Your age: are adults cleaner than children or older people? In any case, they use more water, since children use an average of 69 liters per day and older people use 105 liters. Some senior residences reach consumption levels ranging from 240 to 310 liters per day!

• Where you live: the Josmose team comes from Hauts-de-France, and we can't say that summers in our region are so hot that we need to shower 2 times a day… But in some regions, the climate has a real impact on household water consumption, depending on whether the region is dry, humid, very hot… Not to mention water used outdoors: watering the lawn or flowers, a swimming pool, a fountain… quickly drive up your consumption… and your bill!

The figures speak for themselves:

• Nord–Pas-de-Calais: 109 liters/day 
• Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur: 228 liters/day

• Your income level: the wealthier you are, the more water you consume, but don't conclude that wealthy people are cleaner! They probably just pay less attention to their bills than lower-income households, which consume an average of 90 liters of water/day/person. 

And if you can afford it, you may have a swimming pool, which uses a lot of water, and a very large garden to water… other uses of water that make you a heavy consumer.

A conclusion? Rich or poor, from the North or the South, young or old, we all tend to consume too much and pay too little attention to the water we let run from our open faucets. Yet being mindful and developing good habits is so easy! In our article 7 easy tips to reduce your water consumption at home, you'll find tips and tricks that will lower your bill and help the planet!