Water consumption refers to the volume withdrawn from a source that is not replenished, either through evaporation or transportation to another location. Globally, it has multiplied six times in the last century and shows a consistent annual growth rate of approximately 1%. To understand this better, we will find out the average water usage per person per day and in a month in liters. We will also uncover other water usage and wastage statistics.
Average Water Usage Per Person Per Day in Liters
On average, per person uses 82 gallons or 310 liters of water per day. And, the average water usage per person per month is approximately 2400 gallons. The average family of 4 people would use around 10,000 gallons per month or for 30 days. This may highly vary depending on the geographical locations and the weather of the countries. It can also change from person to person with age, socioeconomic status, and nationality.
This table explains the water requirements for the respective chores done by a person in daily life.
| Needs | Water usage per person(Approx.) |
| Drinking water | 1.3 gallons per day |
| Shower | Power shower 4 gallons/ minute; Mix shower 1.3 gallons/minute |
| Bath | 21 gallons/once |
| Toilet | Modern 1.5 gallons/flush; Old types 2.5 gallons/flush |
| Washing machine | 13 gallons/cycle |
| Dishwasher | Modern washer 4 gallons/cycle; Eco mode 2.6 gallons/cycles |
| Washing utensils by hand | 1.5 gallons/minute |
| Car wash | Hose pipe 66 gallons/wash; Bucket wash 8 gallons/wash |
| Household Leaks | 180 gallons/ week or 9400 gallons/annually |
| Landscaping or Gardening | 25,000 gallons yearly |
| Faucet | 2.2 gallons/minute |
Average domestic water usage in a few countries per day is as follows:
- Australia – Highest consumer of water, where the average water consumption of the country per person per day liters is 494 liters.
- United Kingdom – 92 gallons per household /day
- Singapore – 37.2 gallons per person/ day
- Australia – 130 gallons per household/day
- Canada – 66.3 gallons per person/day
Also, note that an average American consumes around 100 gallons per day, whereas the yearly usage of an average residence is around 100, 000 gallons.
Water Consumption By Various Sectors
The need for water varies among sectors, for example, the Food& Agri sector consumes high volumes withdrawing the raw produce. On the other hand, Pharmaceuticals and biotech industries use maximum water in direct operations.
The below table indicates the potency of high water impact in these sectors (zero to three stars, 3 as the maximum)
| Sector | Production of raw materials | Supply | Operations | Use of product/End of life stage |
| Apparel | *** | * | * | |
| High-Tech/Electronics | * | * | * | |
| Beverage | ** | * | * | |
| BioTech and Pharma | * | |||
| Food/Agri | *** | ** | ||
| Forest items | * | ** | ||
| Metals and Mining | ** | ** | ||
| Electricity or Energy | ** | ** |
Also, check out the Most Common Water Wastage Causes and their Effects
Let us see know more about the water footprint of different industries:
1. Synthetic cloth like polyester has less impact where whereas cotton has greater effects on water and land. Ironically cotton crop requires approximately 2700 liters i.e. water consumed by a person for about two and half years.
2. Approximately 19% of the world’s freshwater is withdrawn for industrial use and the energy sector. The USA alone withdraws water for industrial use around 18.2 gallons every day of which 49% is for thermoelectric power.
3. Global water consumption of power generation in the energy sector in billion cubic meters (bcm) is as follows:
- Renewables – 1 bcm
- Nuclear energy – 4 bcm
- From fossil fuels – 11.2 bcm
- Hydrogen – 1.6 bcm
Cross-reference: Global water consumption in the energy sector by fuel and power generation
4. Computer and Electronic manufacturing use water for processing like rinsing, cooling, fume scrubbing, and landscaping. The below graph shows various stages of water consumption in the respective industry:
5. The food sector consumes water in various stages like washing, sanitation, cooling, heating, and domestic purposes. The below chart shows how water is used in the various stages of this sector
Also See: Causes, Effects and Solutions of Groundwater Depletion
How Much Water is Wasted in Agriculture?
Agriculture withdraws 70% of water worldwide and approximately 60% is wasted.
In many countries around the world, especially in arid and semi-arid regions, groundwater is withdrawn and used to produce crops and livestock. The major source of wastage is because of inefficient techniques used, for better growth of crops fertilizers, herbicides, and fungicides.
In a highly populated country like India, around 80% of water resources are used for agricultural fields and irrigation. As the population around the globe is estimated to reach approximately 9.8 billion by 2050 their calorie intake and dietary preferences are projected to increase. That directly implies the productivity of agriculture increasing food sources.
The following chart shows the withdrawal of fresh water for usage of different industries and agriculture over the years from 1900. The growth spike can be seen clearly which indicates sustainable farming practices should be applied for a positive impact in this scenario.
Water Consumption Per Capita By Country
Per capita, water is calculated with different factors such as population, agricultural practices, and their respective water management practices. It also explains the average water usage per person per day in liters. Here is the table showing water usage statistics by a few countries, from highest to lowest yearly use.
| Country | Water used yearly(m3, thousands of liters) | Per capita of daily water used in liters |
| India | 761,000,000,000 | 1,681 |
| China | 598,100,000,000 | 1,176 |
| USA | 444,300,000,000 | 3,750 |
| Japan | 81,450,000,000 | 1,741 |
| Canada | 35,730,000,000 | 2,740 |
| Spain | 32,850,000,000 | 1,937 |
| Germany | 25,330,000,000 | 850 |
| Australia | 16,130,000,000 | 1,826 |
| South Africa | 15,500,000,000 | 788 |
| United Kingdom | 8,420,000,000 | 351 |
| New Zealand | 5,201,000,000 | 3,278 |
| Switzerland | 2,005,000,000 | 687 |
Water is a finite source and gives life to several ecosystems. The above statistics imply that its daily and monthly consumption rates are leading to its scarcity. So, let us strive for a conservation and water-secure future for the generations to come.
Recommended: 100 Simple Ways to Save and Conserve Water in Daily Life
