Typically, an average family of four uses 6,000-8,000 gallons of water a month. Here are a few things to check if you get a bill that's higher than usual.
The average American uses around 82 gallons per day per person in the household. That means a family of four would use around 10,000 gallons in a 30-day period. But usage varies a great deal across the country, mostly because of differences in weather patterns.
For your family to have a reliable source of water, a 1,000-gallon galvanized tank can be the ideal answer. This is enough for up to three days of supply should there ever be an interruption in municipal water service.
An average family of four typically uses 4,000-5,000 gallons of water per month. PLEASE NOTE: A malfunctioning water meter will typically result in a usage reading of zero. It will NOT result in an unusually high read.
A typical family of four will use between 4,000 and 5,000 gallons of water in a month, and summer months tend to have higher consumption due to lawns, pools, and gardening. Did you have house guests, water your lawn more than usual, or do anything out of the ordinary in the last month which would use more water?
Typically, an average family of four uses 6,000-8,000 gallons of water a month. Here are a few things to check if you get a bill that's higher than usual.
The average monthly water bill varies significantly by state. Costs are lowest in Vermont, Wisconsin, and North Carolina at $18 to $20 per month. In comparison, California and West Virginia have the highest average bills in the country at $77 and $91 per month.
What is Average? The water industry estimates that an average person uses 3,000 gallons of water monthly, so a family of 4 would use 12,000 gallons for bathing, cooking, washing, recreation and watering. But a lot of factors come into play when calculating average use.
Flush Facts
Design improvements have allowed toilets to use 1.28 gallons per flush or less while still providing equal or superior performance. This is 20 percent less water than the current federal standard of 1.6 gallons per flush.
Key points. Rainwater is not necessarily safe to drink without first removing germs and chemicals from it. Regularly test your rainwater for germs and chemicals if you drink, cook, or bathe with it. How you set up your collection system and proper maintenance can improve the quality of your rainwater.
Store at least one gallon per person, per day. Consider storing at least a two-week supply of water for each member of your family.
How Much Water Is Too Much? There is no set amount of water that causes water intoxication. The kidneys can process about one liter of fluid per hour, so any amount above that over a number of hours can be risky. Among healthy people, endurance athletes tend to be at greatest risk for overhydrating.
In 2024, West Virginia was the most expensive U.S. state regarding water rates, with an average monthly bill of almost 100 U.S. dollars. On the contrary, the state with the lowest average water bill during the same period was Vermont and Wisconsin.
On average, approximately 70 percent of that water is used indoors, with the bathroom being the largest consumer (a toilet alone can use 27 percent!).
The average system uses approximately 15-16 gallons per minute, per station. Here is an easy formula to help you calculate the approximate amount of water you are using each month.
The average American shower uses 17.2 gallons (65.1 liters) and lasts for 8.2 minutes at average flow rate of 2.1 gallons per minute (gpm) (7.9 lpm).
An unusually high water bill is most often caused by a leak or change in water use. Some common causes of high water bills include: A leaking toilet, or a toilet that continues to run after being flushed, most common. A dripping faucet; a faucet drip can waster 20 gallons or more of water a day.
Most people spend $4 to $10 per 1,000 gallons from a garden hose or $30 to $100 per 1,000 gallons from a water delivery service.
Water costs can also add up, especially if you have a garden or pool. A typical 4 bedroom household may spend about $50 to $150 per month on water and sewer services. To lower these expenses, be mindful of water usage habits like taking shorter showers and fixing leaks promptly.
Bulk water delivery costs $400 to $2,400 to fill a 10,000 to 20,000-gallon swimming pool. Pool water delivery service companies charge $30 to $100 per 1,000 gallons. Most water delivery companies charge by the truckload, ranging from 1,200-gallon small trucks to 8,000-gallon large tankers.
While it may not be the fastest way, using a garden hose and city tap water is the cheapest way to fill your swimming pool. The average American family uses 12,000 gallons of water per month. And the average-sized swimming pool is around 15,000 gallons.
No. While there are reasons for utilities to give cheaper rates at night and other off-peak times for electricity, I've never heard of time-of-use rates for water. As David Samules points out, you MIGHT save on your electric bill if you have an electric water heater and your utility has a lower night rate.