15 Most Common Water Wastage Causes and their Effects

It is the most vital but thoughtlessly used resource on this planet. As per the EPA, an average family can waste around 180 gallons of water each week, whether intentionally or unintentionally. Old fixtures, faulty plumbing, inefficient appliances, and even our habits are to be blamed for this. However, today we will get to know about other common water wastage causes and their effects.

Water Wastage Causes

The most common causes include old flushing systems, leaks, RO water purification, top load washers, handwashing dishes, and agriculture.

As of 2024, the EPA states that a typical American family uses more than 300 gallons of water at home daily. Moreover, 70% of this is used indoors. But is all this water used efficiently? No. A major portion is wasted. Below we have discussed how is water wasted in the world:

Now, let us go through the causes of water wastage in detail.

1. Old Flushing Systems

You’ll be shocked to know that in an average American home, a bathroom consumes over 45% of water. In fact, 27% of it is used in toilets alone. Any typical household flushes nearly 5 times/day.

If you have an old toilet that uses 7 GPF, you’ll end up using up to 12,775 gallons annually. By shifting to a modern or water-efficient toilet which uses about 1.28 GPF, you can reduce this by 67%. It will save you around 8,559 gallons per year. If you still stick around your outdated flushing system, you’ll keep suffering from wastage.

2. Leaks

These are quite common, but did you know they can waste almost 10,000 gallons of water each year? In fact, nearly 10% of homes have leaks and they waste around 90 gallons or more each day.

Common types of leaks are dripping faucets, worn toilet flappers, and other leaking valves. You can easily fix them with just a few tools and hardware. They can pay for themselves through water savings. By fixing t easily correctable household water leaks, homeowners can save nearly 10% on water bills.

3. Daily Habits

running water tap: ways of wasting water

1 out of every 3 people keeps the water running while doing routine activities. If you are that 1 person, this is how much water you waste:

If your tap’s left running while you’re brushing your teeth, it consumes approximately 4 gallons. Turning it off when you’re not rinsing uses less than a quarter, which is around 0.25 gallons.
Regular showerheads consume 5 gallons of water per minute while water-conserving showerheads only use 2 gallons per minute. A full bathtub, on the other hand, requires 36 gallons of water, which is a lot.
Even washing your face or hands while the water is left running uses around 4 gallons. Turning it off saves around 3 gallons, using only 1 gallon each time you wash up.
Washing dishes with the water running uses around 15 gallons in 5 minutes. However, if you fill the sink or wash dishes without the water running, you’ll only use 5 gallons.

4. RO Water Purification

Water purifiers are increasingly becoming popular and are being installed to address the water quality issue. But these machines aren’t free from problems themselves, they also generate waste water. The World Economic Forum states that an average RO water purifier wastes nearly 3 liters of water for every 1 liter it purifies. So, only about 25% of the water gets purified while the rest 75% is wasted, often ending up in sewage drains.

It can be quite challenging to manage the waste water from RO purification. But it can surely be repurposed. You can use it to clean utensils, cars, and clothes. It can also be used for watering plants or flushing toilets.

5. Using Top Load Washers and Handwashing Dishes

Compared to the top load agitator washers, the front load ones with ENERGY STAR certification use nearly 45% less energy and 50% less water. In the U.S., there are more than 59 million top-load clothes washers currently in use. If we were to replace them with front-load washers, we could save around 14.9 billion kWh of energy and 170 billion gallons of water annually.

Now, let’s discuss about handwashing dishes. This practice uses more energy and water compared to using an ENERGY STAR-certified dishwasher. Such a dishwasher uses less than half the energy used in handwashing dishes. It can save you over 8,000 gallons of water annually.

Also, check out the average water usage per person.

6. Gardening Habits

Shocking as it seems, gardening is one of the top ways of wasting water. According to the EPA as of 2017, the typical American family used over 320 gallons of water daily. Out of this 30% was used outdoors and more than half of this outdoor water was for watering gardens and lawns.

Your outdoor water usage tends to vary based on the location. In dry areas like the Southwest, households can use nearly 60% of their water outdoors. You should check your lawn by stepping on it and if it springs back, it doesn’t need water. You can also use regionally appropriate plants as this helps avoid unnecessary water wastage.

7. Swimming Pools

Filling a typical pool needs nearly 18,000 to 20,000 gallons of water. However, if your pool lacks water-efficient maintenance, it might end up wasting water and becoming costly.

Pools lose water due to leaks, evaporation, cleaning, and splashing. By investing in new equipment or using targeted maintenance methods, you can save water, energy (for heated pools), and money.

8. Car Washing

It can be an issue when you don’t know where or how to wash your car. On average, homeowners use nearly 116 gallons of water to wash a car. Compared to the amount a homeowner uses just to rinse the car, most commercial car washes use nearly 60% less water for the entire process.

9. Meat Production

Did you know meat demands more water to produce than any other food group? Water is used throughout its production process. It’s used for cows to drink and to also irrigate the crops that become their feed.

Eating meat accounts for 30% of the U.S.’s water footprint.
To make a ¼ lb. hamburger, it takes around 53 gallons of water.
Producing a pound of chicken demands 518 gallons of water.
A pound of pork requires 718 gallons of water.

Besides meat, other animal products also use large amounts of water.

To produce a pound of eggs, 395 gallons of water is needed.
A pound of cheese needs 382 gallons of water.
A pound of butter requires 665 gallons of water.
Creating two pints of milk demands 122 gallons of water.

10. Agricultural Activities

Due to the expansion of water-intensive crops like corn, rice, wheat, cotton, and sugarcane, the amount of water waste in agriculture has increased significantly. For example, nearly 88 gallons of water is used to produce a 5-pound bag of sugar.

These water-intensive crops are among the top water wastage causes. As they continue to grow, it’s very crucial for the agriculture industry to develop and adopt advanced water management technologies. This will help them detect as well as minimize water waste.

11. Producing Beverages

Not only growing food but also producing beverages is also responsible for straining our water supply. Common drinks like beer, coffee, and others involve the cultivation of ingredients such as coffee beans, barley, chocolate, sugar, lemons, or vanilla. All these demand substantial amounts of water.

Producing one 12-ounce bottle of beer needs around 28 gallons of water (equivalent to 37 gallons per pint for those who prefer a draft).
To grow, process, and transport enough beans for just one cup of coffee, you’ll need around 140 liters of water.

It’s ok to enjoy these drinks but it’s also crucial to be mindful of the environmental impact we contribute to.

12. Textile and Garments

It might not have clicked to you yet, but producing clothes uses one of the largest amounts of water compared to any other industry. Nearly 9,982 liters of water is used to just make one pair of jeans.

But as the environmental effects of fast fashion are becoming visible to us and the world, companies like H&M and Levi’s are brainstorming to minimize their water usage. You can minimize your contribution to water wastage by opting for consignment shops or online platforms like ThreadUp. They provide you with a chance to purchase used clothes.

13. Automotive Manufacturing

The car industry mainly utilizes water for coating, paint spray booths, surface treatment, cooling, air conditioning systems, and boilers. In fact, manufacturing a new car and its four tires also needs about 39,090 gallons of water. So, before you think you replacing your existing car, think about these factors too.

14. Mining

While coal mining has significantly declined, the industry has expanded. It is mining lithium and other materials important for solar panels, EVs, and other renewable energy sources.

Often, mining takes place in regions with limited freshwater. These places stress on already limited water resources. It’s very crucial for the mining industry to enhance wastewater treatment methods and reduce their water consumption wherever feasible.

15. Misuse of Water Due to Negligence & Water Theft

You’ll be shocked to know that about 22 to 25% of water is lost during transmission, distribution, or even due to theft. In some countries, there is illegal or misuse of water at various locations, particularly in:

Service Stations
Small Eating Joints
Illegal Establishments

The above point explains how water is wasted in the world, now let’s see the top ways you are wasting it.

Also Read: 25+ Practical Ways to Reduce Water Pollution

Top Ways You are Wasting Water

Running the water while brushing or shaving.
Letting the faucet run until the water turns cool instead of keeping cool drinking water in the fridge is wasteful.
Not using a stopper when hand washing dishes can waste water.
Setting high water temperatures in pools or spas causes water to evaporate.
Running a dishwasher that isn’t full wastes water.
Washing small loads of clothing in a washer.
Flushing tissues or objects in the toilet wastes about five to seven gallons per flush.
Taking long or hot showers without a low-flow showerhead wastes water.
Overfilling the bathtub wastes a lot of water. Smaller amounts are more than enough for pets and small children.
By not upgrading water-intensive appliances like toilets to energy-efficient versions, you are encouraging water waste.
Watering the lawn on windy days can result in water blowing away and evaporating faster.
Neglecting leaks in home fixtures. It can lead to significant water loss and even higher utility bills.
Not using a pool cover allows water to evaporate. Thus, you’ll need more water to maintain proper levels.
Watering more than three days a week during hot weather can be excessive; aim for early morning or late evening.
Cleaning sidewalks with a hose instead of a broom. Using a broom can save about 150 gallons of water each time.

Cross-Reference: How can human actions seriously affect water resources?

Effects of Water Wastage

It can have negative impacts on our environment, economy, and society. To address these issues, it is vital to conserve water and use it sustainably. Let’s look at the major wasting water effects:

1. Environmental Effects

a) Water Scarcity and Depletion

By wasting water, you invite scarcity, especially in dry areas. This leads to soil erosion, desertification, and loss of vegetation.
Its depletion affects agriculture. This not only reduces food production but also causes economic instability.

b) Effects on Biodiversity and Aquatic Life

With wastage, water availability is reduced. This endangers aquatic habitats and compromises the survival of aquatic life.
Contamination from wastewater and pollutants also poses health risks to humans relying on these water sources.

c) Contribution to Climate Change

Significant energy is required to treat and distribute wastewater. This results in increased greenhouse gas emissions.
Due to water wastage, waste resources are depleted. This reduces carbon sequestration in forests and worsens the impacts of climate change.

By understanding these environmental effects, it becomes clear that only by conserving water we’ll be able to build a sustainable future.

Also See: 30 Amazing Waste Management Facts and Statistics

2. Economic Effects

a) Increased Water Bills and Costs

Wastage triggers high water demand. This leads to increased water bills for your homes and businesses.
Water utilities may be required to invest more in maintenance and infrastructure. This will result in higher fees or taxes for water usage.

b) Loss of Revenue for Businesses

Water is a crucial input for numerous businesses. For example, agriculture, food processing, and manufacturing.
Water wastage will create shortages for these businesses. This will impact their production capacity and profitability. This can also potentially result in job losses or business closures.

c) Impact on Agricultural Production and Food Prices

What is agriculture without water? Nothing. If we waste it without a second thought, we’ll face reduced crop production as well as lowered produce quality. All this will in turn increase the production costs.
Consumers may need to pay higher food prices due to all this. This will particularly happen in regions heavily reliant on agriculture.

3. Social Effects

a) Unequal Access to Water Resources

Access to safe and clean water is not the same throughout different parts of the world. Rural or impoverished urban areas are often the ones to deal with water scarcity and lower water quality.
Wasting water further worsens this issue. It makes it harder for those who truly need water the most.
This especially burdens vulnerable communities, particularly women and girls. They must travel long distances to get water.

b) Health Risks and Waterborne Diseases

Wasted water is a major culprit behind accumulation of stagnant water, which becomes a breeding ground for mosquitoes and other harmful organisms.
This increases the chances of contracting diseases like cholera, typhoid, and diarrhea. The diseases gravely affect the communities with limited healthcare access.

c) Impact on Education and Employment Opportunities

In households with water shortages, women and children are the most affected groups. They are required to spend most of their time fetching water.
This takes away the precious time they could have spent on their education or other income-generating activities.
Additionally, water scarcity or poor water quality can create operational challenges for businesses and industries. They might even have to close down.

With this, you have learned how our common habits and activities are the major reasons behind water wastage. Knowingly or unknowingly, we are contributing to a massive problem. This will affect our environment, society, and the economic condition of the country. So, it’s high time we start introspecting and changing. What’s done is done, now the time is to change what’s to come. So, use water wisely!

15 Most Common Water Wastage Causes and their Effects