Each day in the United States, about 27.4 billion gallons of water are withdrawn and delivered from surface water and groundwater sources for residential use, which includes water for drinking, washing clothes, flushing toilets, watering lawns, and more. Where is it all coming from?
- Water arrives to your home in one of two ways: it can come from a public supply, which is a private or public water supplier that serves at least 25 people (think of a water tower) and fulfills domestic, commercial, and industrial purposes, or it's self-supplied, which means it's likely coming from a private well.
- The majority of the water withdrawn for the public supply comes from surface water sources, such as lakes or streams, while most self-supplied domestic water use comes from groundwater sources.
- Over half of the US population relies on groundwater for domestic uses, with some states relying on groundwater especially heavily: Hawaii, Florida, Idaho, Mississippi, Nebraska, and Iowa all used groundwater for more than 75% of their public-supply withdrawals in 2010.
How does your state stack up? Click the links below to check in on your state's water use and learn more about what you can do to protect water resources for your state.
Alabama
In Alabama about 365 million gallons of water are withdrawn and delivered every day for domestic use, with the average Alabama resident using 76 gallons per day in and around their home. If every Alabama resident reduced their shower duration by one minute, about 2.6 billion gallons of water would be saved every year—that's enough water to fill more than 3,900 Olympic-sized pools!
Alaska
In Alaska about 64 million gallons of water are withdrawn and delivered every day for domestic use, with the average Alaska resident using 90 gallons per day in and around their home. If every Alaska resident reduced their shower duration by one minute, about 400 million gallons of water would be saved every year—that's enough water to fill more than 600 Olympic-sized pools!
Arizona
In Arizona about 939 million gallons of water are withdrawn and delivered every day for domestic use, with the average Arizona resident using 147 gallons per day in and around their home. If every Arizona resident reduced their shower duration by one minute, about 3.6 billion gallons of water would be saved every year—that's enough water to fill more than 5,400 Olympic-sized pools!
Arkansas
In Arkansas about 308 million gallons of water are withdrawn and delivered every day for domestic use, with the average Arkansas resident using 106 gallons per day in and around their home. If every Arkansas resident reduced their shower duration by one minute, about 1.6 billion gallons of water would be saved every year—that's enough water to fill more than 2,400 Olympic-sized pools!
California
In California about 4 billion gallons of water are withdrawn and delivered every day for domestic use, with the average California resident using 108 gallons per day in and around their home. If every California resident reduced their shower duration by one minute, about 21 billion gallons of water would be saved every year—that's enough water to fill more than 31,800 Olympic-sized pools!
Colorado
In Colorado about 559 million gallons of water are withdrawn and delivered every day for domestic use, with the average Colorado resident using 111 gallons per day in and around their home. If every Colorado resident reduced their shower duration by one minute, about 2.9 billion gallons of water would be saved every year—that's enough water to fill more than 4,300 Olympic-sized pools!
Connecticut
In Connecticut about 268 million gallons of water are withdrawn and delivered every day for domestic use, with the average Connecticut resident using 75 gallons per day in and around their home. If every Connecticut resident reduced their shower duration by one minute, about 1.9 billion gallons of water would be saved every year—that's enough water to fill more than 2,800 Olympic-sized pools!
Delaware
In Delaware about 71.8 million gallons of water are withdrawn and delivered every day for domestic use, with the average Delaware resident using 80 gallons per day in and around their home. If every Delaware resident reduced their shower duration by one minute, about 510 million gallons of water would be saved every year—that's enough water to fill more than 770 Olympic-sized pools!
District of Columbia
In the District of Columbia about 74.9 million gallons of water are withdrawn and delivered every day for domestic use, with the average DC resident using 125 gallons per day in and around their home. If every DC resident reduced their shower duration by one minute, about 360 million gallons of water would be saved every year—that's enough water to fill more than 540 Olympic-sized pools!
Florida
In Florida about 1.6 billion gallons of water are withdrawn and delivered every day for domestic use, with the average Florida resident using 87 gallons per day in and around their home. If every Florida resident reduced their shower duration by one minute, about 10 billion gallons of water would be saved every year—that's enough water to fill more than 15,100 Olympic-sized pools!
Georgia
In Georgia about 765 million gallons of water are withdrawn and delivered every day for domestic use, with the average Georgia resident using 79 gallons per day in and around their home. If every Georgia resident reduced their shower duration by one minute, about 5.5 billion gallons of water would be saved every year—that's enough water to fill more than 8,300 Olympic-sized pools!
Hawai'i
In Hawai'i about 196 million gallons of water are withdrawn and delivered every day for domestic use, with the average Hawaii resident using 144 gallons per day in and around their home. If every Hawai'i resident reduced their shower duration by one minute, about 770 million gallons of water would be saved every year—that's enough water to fill more than 1,100 Olympic-sized pools!
Idaho
In Idaho about 263 million gallons of water are withdrawn and delivered every day for domestic use, with the average Idaho resident using 168 gallons per day in and around their home. If every Idaho resident reduced their shower duration by one minute, about 890 million gallons of water would be saved every year—that's enough water to fill more than 1,300 Olympic-sized pools!
Illinois
In Illinois about 1 billion gallons of water are withdrawn and delivered every day for domestic use, with the average Illinois resident using 80 gallons per day in and around their home. If every Illinois resident reduced their shower duration by one minute, about 7 billion gallons of water would be saved every year—that's enough water to fill more than 10,600 Olympic-sized pools!
Indiana
In Indiana about 493 million gallons of water are withdrawn and delivered every day for domestic use, with the average Indiana resident using 76 gallons per day in and around their home. If every Indiana resident reduced their shower duration by one minute, about 3.6 billion gallons of water would be saved every year—that's enough water to fill more than 5,400 Olympic-sized pools!
Iowa
In Iowa about 198 million gallons of water are withdrawn and delivered every day for domestic use, with the average Iowa resident using 65 gallons per day in and around their home. If every Iowa resident reduced their shower duration by one minute, about 1.7 billion gallons of water would be saved every year—that's enough water to fill more than 2,500 Olympic-sized pools!
Kansas
In Kansas about 209 million gallons of water are withdrawn and delivered every day for domestic use, with the average Kansas resident using 73 gallons per day in and around their home. If every Kansas resident reduced their shower duration by one minute, about 1.5 billion gallons of water would be saved every year—that's enough water to fill more than 2,200 Olympic-sized pools!
Kentucky
In Kentucky about 290 million gallons of water are withdrawn and delivered every day for domestic use, with the average Kentucky resident using 67 gallons per day in and around their home. If every Kentucky resident reduced their shower duration by one minute, about 2.4 billion gallons of water would be saved every year—that's enough water to fill more than 3,600 Olympic-sized pools!
Louisiana
In Louisiana about 473 million gallons of water are withdrawn and delivered every day for domestic use, with the average Louisiana resident using 104 gallons per day in and around their home. If every Louisiana resident reduced their shower duration by one minute, about 2.5 billion gallons of water would be saved every year—that's enough water to fill more than 3,700 Olympic-sized pools!
Maine
In Maine about 72.4 million gallons of water are withdrawn and delivered every day for domestic use, with the average Maine resident using 55 gallons per day in and around their home. If every Maine resident reduced their shower duration by one minute, about 720 million gallons of water would be saved every year—that's enough water to fill more than 1,000 Olympic-sized pools!
Maryland
In Maryland about 592 million gallons of water are withdrawn and delivered every day for domestic use, with the average Maryland resident using 103 gallons per day in and around their home. If every Maryland resident reduced their shower duration by one minute, about 3.2 billion gallons of water would be saved every year—that's enough water to fill more than 4,800 Olympic-sized pools!
Massachusetts
In Massachusetts about 423 million gallons of water are withdrawn and delivered every day for domestic use, with the average Massachusetts resident using 65 gallons per day in and around their home. If every Massachusetts resident reduced their shower duration by one minute, about 3.6 billion gallons of water would be saved every year—that's enough water to fill more than 5,400 Olympic-sized pools!
Michigan
In Michigan about 779 million gallons of water are withdrawn and delivered every day for domestic use, with the average Michigan resident using 79 gallons per day in and around their home. If every Michigan resident reduced their shower duration by one minute, about 5.4 billion gallons of water would be saved every year—that's enough water to fill more than 8,100 Olympic-sized pools!
Minnesota
In Minnesota about 327 million gallons of water are withdrawn and delivered every day for domestic use, with the average Minnesota resident using 62 gallons per day in and around their home. If every Minnesota resident reduced their shower duration by one minute, about 2.9 billion gallons of water would be saved every year—that's enough water to fill more than 4,300 Olympic-sized pools!
Mississippi
In Mississippi about 297 million gallons of water are withdrawn and delivered every day for domestic use, with the average Mississippi resident using 100 gallons per day in and around their home. If every Mississippi resident reduced their shower duration by one minute, about 1.6 billion gallons of water would be saved every year—that's enough water to fill more than 2,400 Olympic-sized pools!
Missouri
In Missouri about 529 million gallons of water are withdrawn and delivered every day for domestic use, with the average Missouri resident using 88 gallons per day in and around their home. If every Missouri resident reduced their shower duration by one minute, about 3.3 billion gallons of water would be saved every year—that's enough water to fill 5,000 Olympic-sized pools!
Montana
In Montana about 105 million gallons of water are withdrawn and delivered every day for domestic use, with the average Montana resident using 107 gallons per day in and around their home. If every Montana resident reduced their shower duration by one minute, about 560 million gallons of water would be saved every year—that's enough water to fill more than 840 Olympic-sized pools!
Nebraska
In Nebraska about 174 million gallons of water are withdrawn and delivered every day for domestic use, with the average Nebraska resident using 95 gallons per day in and around their home. If every Nebraska resident reduced their shower duration by one minute, about 1 billion gallons of water would be saved every year—that's enough water to fill more than 1,500 Olympic-sized pools!
Nevada
In Nevada about 361 million gallons of water are withdrawn and delivered every day for domestic use, with the average Nevada resident using 134 gallons per day in and around their home. If every Nevada resident reduced their shower duration by one minute, about 1.5 billion gallons of water would be saved every year—that's enough water to fill more than 2,200 Olympic-sized pools!
New Hampshire
In New Hampshire about 92 million gallons of water are withdrawn and delivered every day for domestic use, with the average New Hampshire resident using 70 gallons per day in and around their home. If every New Hampshire resident reduced their shower duration by one minute, about 720 million gallons of water would be saved every year—that's enough water to fill more than 1,000 Olympic-sized pools!
New Jersey
In New Jersey about 703 million gallons of water are withdrawn and delivered every day for domestic use, with the average New Jersey resident using 80 gallons per day in and around their home. If every New Jersey resident reduced their shower duration by one minute, about 4.8 billion gallons of water would be saved every year—that's enough water to fill more than 7,200 Olympic-sized pools!
New Mexico
In New Mexico about 186 million gallons of water are withdrawn and delivered every day for domestic use, with the average New Mexico resident using 90 gallons per day in and around their home. If every New Mexico resident reduced their shower duration by one minute, about 1.1 billion gallons of water would be saved every year—that's enough water to fill more than 1,600 Olympic-sized pools!
New York
In New York about 1.5 billion gallons of water are withdrawn and delivered every day for domestic use, with the average New York resident using 79 gallons per day in and around their home. If every New York resident reduced their shower duration by one minute, about 10 billion gallons of water would be saved every year—that's enough water to fill more than 15,000 Olympic-sized pools!
North Carolina
In North Carolina about 668 million gallons of water are withdrawn and delivered every day for domestic use, with the average North Carolina resident using 70 gallons per day in and around their home. If every North Carolina resident reduced their shower duration by one minute, about 5.4 billion gallons of water would be saved every year—that's enough water to fill more than 8,100 Olympic-sized pools!
North Dakota
In North Dakota about 53.6 million gallons of water are withdrawn and delivered every day for domestic use, with the average North Dakota resident using 80 gallons per day in and around their home. If every North Dakota resident reduced their shower duration by one minute, about 400 million gallons of water would be saved every year—that's enough water to fill more than 600 Olympic-sized pools!
Ohio
In Ohio about 756 million gallons of water are withdrawn and delivered every day for domestic use, with the average Ohio resident using 66 gallons per day in and around their home. If every Ohio resident reduced their shower duration by one minute, about 6.3 billion gallons of water would be saved every year—that's enough water to fill more than 9,500 Olympic-sized pools!
Oklahoma
In Oklahoma about 319 million gallons of water are withdrawn and delivered every day for domestic use, with the average Oklahoma resident using 85 gallons per day in and around their home. If every Oklahoma resident reduced their shower duration by one minute, about 2.1 billion gallons of water would be saved every year—that's enough water to fill more than 3,100 Olympic-sized pools!
Oregon
In Oregon about 432 million gallons of water are withdrawn and delivered every day for domestic use, with the average Oregon resident using 113 gallons per day in and around their home. If every Oregon resident reduced their shower duration by one minute, about 2.1 billion gallons of water would be saved every year—that's enough water to fill more than 3,100 Olympic-sized pools!
Pennsylvania
In Pennsylvania about 749 million gallons of water are withdrawn and delivered every day for domestic use, with the average Pennsylvania resident using 59 gallons per day in and around their home. If every Pennsylvania resident reduced their shower duration by one minute, about 7 billion gallons of water would be saved every year—that's enough water to fill more than 10,600 Olympic-sized pools!
Puerto Rico
In Puerto Rico about 232 million gallons of water are withdrawn and delivered every day for domestic use, with the average Puerto Rico resident using 62 gallons per day in and around their home. If every Puerto Rico resident reduced their shower duration by one minute, about 1.9 billion gallons of water would be saved every year—that's enough water to fill more than 2,800 Olympic-sized pools!
Rhode Island
In Rhode Island about 75.7 million gallons of water are withdrawn and delivered every day for domestic use, with the average Rhode Island resident using 72 gallons per day in and around their home. If every Rhode Island resident reduced their shower duration by one minute, about 570 million gallons of water would be saved every year—that's enough water to fill more than 860 Olympic-sized pools!
South Carolina
In South Carolina about 463 million gallons of water are withdrawn and delivered every day for domestic use, with the average South Carolina resident using 100 gallons per day in and around their home. If every South Carolina resident reduced their shower duration by one minute, about 2.6 billion gallons of water would be saved every year—that's enough water to fill more than 3,900 Olympic-sized pools!
South Dakota
In South Dakota about 76.1 million gallons of water are withdrawn and delivered every day for domestic use, with the average South Dakota resident using 93 gallons per day in and around their home. If every South Dakota resident reduced their shower duration by one minute, about 460 million gallons of water would be saved every year—that's enough water to fill more than 690 Olympic-sized pools!
Tennessee
In Tennessee about 509 million gallons of water are withdrawn and delivered every day for domestic use, with the average Tennessee resident using 80 gallons per day in and around their home. If every Tennessee resident reduced their shower duration by one minute, about 3.5 billion gallons of water would be saved every year—that's enough water to fill more than 5,300 Olympic-sized pools!
Texas
In Texas about 2.3 billion gallons of water are withdrawn and delivered every day for domestic use, with the average Texas resident using 92 gallons per day in and around their home. If every Texas resident reduced their shower duration by one minute, about 14 billion gallons of water would be saved every year—that's enough water to fill more than 21,000 Olympic-sized pools!
Utah
In Utah about 462 million gallons of water are withdrawn and delivered every day for domestic use, with the average Utah resident using 167 gallons per day in and around their home. If every Utah resident reduced their shower duration by one minute, about 1.6 billion gallons of water would be saved every year—that's enough water to fill more than 2,400 Olympic-sized pools!
Vermont
In Vermont about 39.9 million gallons of water are withdrawn and delivered every day for domestic use, with the average Vermont resident using 64 gallons per day in and around their home. If every Vermont resident reduced their shower duration by one minute, about 340 million gallons of water would be saved every year—that's enough water to fill more than 510 Olympic-sized pools!
Virginia
In Virginia about 600 million gallons of water are withdrawn and delivered every day for domestic use, with the average Virginia resident using 75 gallons per day in and around their home. If every Virginia resident reduced their shower duration by one minute, about 4.5 billion gallons of water would be saved every year—that's enough water to fill more than 6,800 Olympic-sized pools!
Washington
In Washington about 747 million gallons of water are withdrawn and delivered every day for domestic use, with the average Washington resident using 111 gallons per day in and around their home. If every Washington resident reduced their shower duration by one minute, about 3.8 billion gallons of water would be saved every year—that's enough water to fill more than 5,700 Olympic-sized pools!
West Virginia
In West Virginia about 148 million gallons of water are withdrawn and delivered every day for domestic use, with the average West Virginia resident using 80 gallons per day in and around their home. If every West Virginia resident reduced their shower duration by one minute, about 1 billion gallons of water would be saved every year—that's enough water to fill more than 1,500 Olympic-sized pools!
Wisconsin
In Wisconsin about 290 million gallons of water are withdrawn and delivered every day for domestic use, with the average Wisconsin resident using 51 gallons per day in and around their home. If every Wisconsin resident reduced their shower duration by one minute, about 3.1 billion gallons of water would be saved every year—that's enough water to fill more than 4,600 Olympic-sized pools!
Wyoming
In Wyoming about 81.4 million gallons of water are withdrawn and delivered every day for domestic use, with the average Wyoming resident using 144 gallons per day in and around their home. If every Wyoming resident reduced their shower duration by one minute, about 320 million gallons of water would be saved every year—that's enough water to fill more than 480 Olympic-sized pools!
Sources:
- Alliance for Water Efficiency. 2016. “Home Water Works: Showers.” Accessed June 27. http://www.home-water-works.org/indoor-use/showers.
- EPA. 2016. “Water Trivia Facts.” Accessed June 27. http://water.epa.gov/learn/kids/drinkingwater/water_trivia_facts.cfm.
- EPA. 2016. “WaterSense.” Acessed June 27. http://www.epa.gov/WaterSense/pubs/indoor.html.
- Maupin, M.A., Kenny, J.F., Hutson, S.S., Lovelace, J.K., Barber, N.L., and Linsey, K.S., 2014, Estimated Use of Water in the United States in 2010: US Geological Survey Circular 1405, 56 p., http://dx.doi.org/10.3133/cir1405.
- National Geographic. 2016. “Water Footprint Calculator Methodology and Tips.” Accessed June 27. http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/freshwater/water-calculator-methodology/.
- US Census Bureau. 2015. “Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for the United States, Regions, States, and Puerto Rico: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2014 (NST-EST2014-01)” Accessed June 27. http://www.census.gov/popest/data/state/totals/2014/index.html.
- USGS. 2016 “Water Use in the United States: Domestic Water Use.” Accessed June 27. http://water.usgs.gov/watuse/wudo.html.
- USGS. 2016. “Water Use in the United States: Public Supply Water Use.” Accessed June 27. http://water.usgs.gov/watuse/wups.html.
