In the face of drought, every liter of water counts. Without changing your daily routines, four simple actions can save at least 10 liters of potable water per person per day. A modest saving in appearance, but substantial at the household level and over a year.
Drought: Save 10 Liters of Water per Person per Day Without Changing Your Daily Routine
Shower, toilet flushing, dishes, laundry… In France, each person uses an average of about 150 liters of potable water per day. Yet only a very small portion of this water is for drinking.
Personal hygiene is the largest category of consumption. It’s followed by toilets, laundry, and dishwashing. There is therefore a substantial margin for savings in every home.
There’s no need to turn your bathroom into a campsite or give up comfort. A few simple habits can already save 10 liters per day. Often, actual savings will be even higher.
1. Turn off the faucet while brushing your teeth: save 6 liters
This is undoubtedly the simplest and most cost-effective move. A faucet equipped with an aerator can allow about 6 liters of water to flow per minute. Older models can consume even more.
By simply turning off the faucet for one minute of brushing, you save about 6 liters. It’s enough to rinse your mouth with a glass.
If the faucet is typically left on during two daily brushing sessions, the savings can easily exceed 10 liters per person per day.
Savings used in our calculation: 6 liters per day.
2. Wash fruits and vegetables in a basin: save 2 liters
Rinsing a head of lettuce or vegetables under a continuous stream of water quickly uses several liters. A small basin placed in the sink allows you to do the same job with far less water.
Start by removing soil or damaged parts before washing. Then fill the basin with just enough water to clean the food. A quick final rinse can be done if needed.
This water can then be reused for watering the garden, provided it contains no soap, salt, or cleaning products.
Average savings retained: 2 liters per day.
3. Capture the cold water from the shower: save 1 liter
In many homes, several seconds are required before the shower reaches the right temperature. This potable water often ends up in the pipes unused.
Place a bucket or large container under the showerhead during the warming period. You can use the collected water to mop the floor, water indoor plants, or clean the balcony.
Depending on the length of the pipes, the amount recovered can range from a few deciliters to several liters. In our estimate, we count only one liter per day.
Savings kept: 1 liter per day.
4. Reuse still-clean water in the kitchen: save 1 liter
Several waters used in cooking can gain a second life. This is the case for water used to rinse rice, to boil vegetables without salt, or to lightly clean a container.
Once cooled, this water can be used for cleaning or watering. Non-salted cooking water also contains minerals released by vegetables.
However, never pour hot water on plants. Also avoid greasy, highly salted, or dishwashing liquid-contaminated waters.
Savings kept: 1 liter per day.
The calculation of 10 liters saved every day
- Turn off the faucet while brushing: 6 liters
- Wash vegetables in a basin: 2 liters
- Capture cold shower water: 1 liter
- Reuse clean kitchen water: 1 liter
Total: at least 10 liters of potable water saved per person per day.
The amounts depend on faucet flow rates and individual habits. This estimate remains deliberately conservative.
Nearly 15,000 liters saved per year for a family
Ten liters per day amounts to 3,650 liters saved in a year for one person. For a four-person family, the gain can reach 14,600 liters.
That corresponds to more than 97 days of average per-person water use, assuming a daily consumption of 150 liters.
These savings also reduce the amount of water that must be pumped, treated, and transported. When it comes to hot water, they also cut energy use.
Actions that let you go much further
The four habits above form only a first tier. Other changes can save dozens more liters.
Cut your shower by one minute
One minute less under the shower can save several liters. A timer or a short song helps you measure time under the water more accurately.
It’s still best to turn off water during lathering. A shorter shower typically uses far less water than a bath.
Install aerators on taps
Aerators mix air into the stream and reduce flow without eliminating the sensation of pressure. Inexpensive, they’re usually installed in just a few minutes.
Before buying, check the faucet diameter and the claimed flow rate. A poorly matched aerator can cause splashing or reduce comfort too much.
Run appliances at full loads
Washing machines and dishwashers should be started when they’re sufficiently full. The “eco” program is usually preferable, even if it takes longer.
Avoid overloading appliances, though. Poorly cleaned dishes or inadequately rinsed laundry would require a second cycle.
Choose a dual-flush toilet
Toilets account for about a fifth of household consumption. A dual-flush toilet lets you adjust the water volume for each use.
It’s also essential to check for leaks. A running toilet can waste hundreds of liters in a single day.
Track leaks before you sacrifice comfort
A dripping faucet is never trivial. Depending on the leak’s severity, it can waste dozens of liters of water daily.
To check the system, read the water meter before bed. Then don’t use any appliance or faucet overnight. If the numbers change by morning, it’s essential to inspect the installation and repair the leak quickly.
Inspect faucets, toilets, the hot water heater, and connections of household appliances. Some leaks stay silent and invisible.
Save water without making it unsafe
Household reuse should remain reasonable. Water containing soap, salt, chemicals, or grease should not be poured onto plants.
Similarly, water recovered from the shower or sink shouldn’t be stored for long. It can quickly become a medium for microorganisms to grow.
Finally, rainwater and reused waters are not potable. They should not be used for drinking, cooking, or washing foods.
By adopting four simple actions, everyone can save at least 10 liters of potable water daily. The best savings are the ones that become a habit and endure long after the drought ends.
