Understanding how water is used throughout your home is the first step toward meaningful savings.

The average American family uses more than 300 gallons of water per day at home, and roughly 70% of that use occurs indoors, according to EPA WaterSense® . Here are some key ways to reduce water usage in and outside of your home.

Indoor Water Use

Showers

Showers account for a meaningful share of indoor water use. According to EPA WaterSense, showers account for nearly 17% of indoor water use in the average home. A typical shower lasts about eight minutes and uses roughly 17 gallons of water with a standard showerhead flowing at 2.1 gallons per minute (GPM). That’s about the same amount of water used in more than 13 flushes of a modern 1.28 gallons-per-flush toilet.

Water-saving solutions

  • Install a WaterSense-labeled showerhead (2.0 GPM or less) to reduce water use by up to 20%. EPA WaterSense estimates the average family can save 2,700 gallons of water each year by replacing just one showerhead with a WaterSense-labeled model, such as the Moen Attract with Magnetix 6-Spray Wall-Mount Dual Showerhead.
  • Cut a few minutes from your shower time to save additional water each day. Over time, the reduced water use can also lower the energy required to heat that water, which can contribute to additional utility savings.

Toilets

Being one of the largest sources of water use in the home, current standard toilets use 1.6 gallons per flush, while older toilets can use as much as 3.5 to 7 gallons per flush. Switching to a WaterSense-labeled toilet is a high-impact upgrade because WaterSense-labeled models use 1.28 gallons per flush or less, which is at least 20% less water than the federal standard.

Water-saving solutions

  • Replace older toilets with WaterSense-labeled models, such as the Kohler Highline Arc Toilet, to reduce toilet water use by up to 20%.
  • Check for silent toilet leaks, which can waste significant water over time. A running toilet alone can waste up to 200 gallons of water per day, adding up quickly if not repaired.

Faucets

Faucets are a daily source of water use, especially in bathrooms where washing hands, brushing teeth and shaving happen frequently. EPA WaterSense notes that a bathroom faucet generally runs at about 2.0 GPM and simply turning off the tap while brushing your teeth or shaving can save a person more than 200 gallons of water per month.

Upgrading a faucet can make an even bigger difference over time. WaterSense-labeled bathroom faucets, like the Moen Adler Faucet, and accessories use no more than 1.5 GPM, which is at least 30% lower than the federal standard flow rate of 2.2 GPM. EPA WaterSense estimates that replacing old, inefficient faucets and aerators with WaterSense-labeled models can save the average family about 700 gallons of water per year.

Water-saving solutions

  • Add WaterSense-labeled faucet accessories like aerators to reduce flow by up to 30%.
  • Turn off the faucet while brushing teeth or shaving to avoid unnecessary running water.

WAshing Machines

According to EPA WaterSense, the average family washes nearly 300 loads of laundry each year, and older washing machines can use 40 gallons of water or more per load. That can add up to thousands of gallons annually, making laundry one of the biggest opportunities for water savings inside the home.

Water-saving solutions

  • Choose an ENERGY STAR® -certified washing machine – like the GE 4.6 cu. ft. Top-Load Washer, which can use up to 33% less water than standard models – and run full loads when possible.

Outdoor Water Use: A Major Opportunity

Outdoor irrigation can account for nearly 30% of household water use and up to 60% in dry climates. In regions with limited rainfall, landscapes may rely heavily on sprinklers to stay healthy, but even well-intended watering can add up quickly. The most common issues include watering too often, watering at the wrong time of day, and leaks or misaligned sprinkler heads that send water where it is not needed.

Lawn and Landscape Irrigation

Water-saving solutions

Outdoor Spigots and Hoses

Water-saving solutions

  • Use a hose nozzle with a shutoff to prevent water from running between tasks.
  • Check outdoor spigots and hoses for leaks before peak watering season.

Bringing it All Together: Smarter Water Use Starts at Home

Understanding how water is used throughout your home is the first step toward meaningful savings. From showers and toilets to irrigation systems and outdoor hoses, small upgrades can add up to thousands of gallons saved each year. WaterSense-labeled products are independently certified to meet EPA criteria for efficiency and performance, making them a reliable shortcut when choosing fixtures and irrigation tools. By fixing leaks, upgrading to WaterSense-labeled models and adjusting daily habits, households can reduce water use without sacrificing performance while helping ease pressure on local water supplies, especially in drought-prone regions.