Water FAQ
The average daily water volume used per person in the United States is 100 gallons.
Did you know that a water faucet that leaks 60 drops per minute can waste almost 200 gallons of water per day?
Water bills are issued quarterly, or about every 120 days. If a leak of that size was allowed to continue for a whole billing cycle, the water lost (and billed) would be 24,000 gallons. Leaks are costly in many ways.
Usage
Average Residential Usage
For a family of four, the USGS indicates that average water usage is approximately 80-100 gallons, per person per day. There are many reasons why water usage varies, of course including the season of the year and amount of time spent at the service address. If you have questions about changes in usage rates, contact the Clerk's Office.
Can a leaky pipe make a big difference in my water bill?
Yes, leaks that might seem insignificant actually result in surprising water loss, expense and damage. Here are a couple of examples:
Pipe Leak Size | Gallons Lost Per Day |
Gallons Lost |
||||
1/16" | 360 | 11,160 | ||||
1/8" | 3,086 | 95,976 | ||||
3/16" | 8,424 | 261,144 | ||||
1/4" | 14,952 | 463,512 |
Do you know the average amount of water required for typical household activities?
Taking a bath in the tub | 30 to 50 gallons | |||
Taking a shower | 9 gallons/minute | |||
Washing dishes | 10 gallons (by hand) |
12 gallons (dishwasher) |
||
Running washing machine | 19 gallons (low setting) |
45 gallons (high setting) |
||
Flushing a toilet | 3 gallons (old) | 1.6 gallons (new) | ||
Running taps for hot or cold water | 5 gallons per minute |
Wastewater
What can safely be flushed?
Human waste and toilet paper are the only things that should be flushed into the sanitary sewer system. Pet waste should not be flushed.
Are "flushable" products really flushable?
Disposable wipes and other items that are sold as disposable or "flushable" do not degrade like toilet paper degrades. Such items often clog pipes and create problems in pumps—which can result in wastewater or sewer problems in homes, businesses and even on streets.
What's on the "Do Not Flush List"?
- Medications of any kind, including vitamins
- Diapers (of any kind, even "flushables")
- Facial tissue
- Disposable baby wipes, or any other kind of wipes
- Toilet cleaning pads or scrubbers
- Swiffer products
- Napkins (paper or cloth)
- Dental Floss
- Fats, oils, or greases
- Cloth items of any kind (wash cloths, towels, rags, underwear)
- Plastic wrappers or packaging
- Feminine hygiene products (sanitary pads, napkins, tampons)
- Condoms
- Any kind of non-organic material