Water Wastage : Most Common Causes

On an average, 1 person wastes somewhere between 0 to 45L of water everyday.

Water is used in every aspect of life. With this being said, water is also the most thoughtlessly used natural resource on this planet. Everyday water is wasted either knowingly or unknowingly.

Recent data reveals that a single person wastes approximately 0-45L of water per day. To put this in perspective, it makes up to 30% of standard water requirement per person per day.

While water wastage keeps on continuing, we have aggregated a list of the most common causes behind it.

What is Water Wastage and How Does It Occur?

Water wastage refers to the unnecessary or excessive use of water that can happen in several ways. Wastewater from communities, often called sewage, includes water from toilets, sinks, and other household drains. Many people unknowingly waste water by taking long showers, running washing machines too frequently, or leaving taps open while brushing teeth. Additionally, harmful chemicals from cleaning products can enter the sewage system, potentially harming the environment. Sometimes, wastewater treatment plants may not operate efficiently, leading to improper handling of sewage and further environmental damage. Overall, water wastage happens both through overuse and poor management.

Most common causes of Water Wastage:

Flushing Systems

As unlikely as it may seem, this is a major cause in households, restaurants, multiplexes, offices etc. Flushing systems waste water in the following ways:

• When disposing general waste, paper napkins and other bathroom waste via flushing, approximately 6 to 13 L of water is consumed. In other words, every time the toilet is used 6 to 13 L water is wasted.
• Often due to faulty plumbing, there is leakage in the flush tank. This leads to automatic refilling of water and may also hear the sound of flushing. This may also be called Phantom Flushes.
• Even today around 40% installments use older flushing systems. For every flush these systems consume 13.6 to 16 L of water.

Approximate water wasted per person per day= 13 L

Approximate water wasted per person per month= 390 L

Approximate water wasted per person per day= 4745 L

Running Water

1 out of 3 people keep the water running while carrying out routine activities. On an average, flow rate from a regular faucet is around 5 lpm (liters per minutes) and flow rate from a regular shower is around 10 lpm. This waste of water is the most neglected and common one. Some such routines that include wasting running water are:

• On an average, brushing is a 3 to 5 minute activity. By habit, a lot of people keep the water running while brushing. So in perspective, keeping the water running while brushing wastes around 25 L of water.
• Though showering takes 15-20 minutes, it does not amount for the extra time required for the water to be warm enough or when one is applying soap or shampoos.  This extra consumption of water is no less than 50 L of water per shower.
• When washing dishes by hand, people have a tendency of keeping the water running. Wastage of water because of this is in the range of  20 to 60 L per day per household and is greater for restaurants and hotels.

Approximate water wasted per person per day= 30 L

Approximate water wasted per person per month= 900 L

Approximate water wasted per person per day= 10950 L

RO Water Purification

Purification of water has become imperative with the current decline in the quality of water. RO Purifiers are increasingly being installed to tackle this problem. That being said, all RO Purifiers produce waste water. Period.

Generally the RO Purifiers produce 60-70% of non purified water which cannot be used for drinking purposes. But this is not all. After careful monitoring of these systems, it was found that almost 20% of the purified drinking water is included in the waste water.

In simpler terms, we can say

Water Wasted from RO = 50% (non purified) + 20% (purified)

Lets put a perspective to the 20% wasted purified water.

The amount of water used by a family of 4 members, is 24 L/day. This value includes water used for drinking and cooking purposes i.e. the purifier provides them with around 24 litres of pure water every day.

Now, considering the 20% wastage, for 24 L/day the amount of waste water generated is around 4.8 L. So the amount of water wasted in that family per person per day is around 4.8/4 = 1.2 L

Approximate water wasted per person per day= 1.2 L

Approximate water wasted per person per month= 36 L

Approximate water wasted per person per day= 438 L

Negligence & Theft

As much as 22 to 25 per cent water is wasted during transmission and distribution or due to theft. A survey was conducted by the Municipal Corporation which reveals that water is being used illegally at several locations with no checks in place. Amongst the biggest defaulters are

• Service Stations.
• Owners of Small Eating Joints.
• Illegal Establishments.

While Theft of water remains a pressing issue, high negligence towards water wastage is not far behind. To list a few:

• Most societies and buildings let overhead tanks are left overflowing every morning. The flow rate ranges from 400 to 650 L. Letting the overhead tank flow for even 5 minutes results in wasting 2000 to 3100 L.
• Many buildings have leaky and faulty pipelines. Even the distribution lines within cities have faulty plumbing. These are the reasons for constant wastage of water.

Others

While the above mentioned are somewhat the major contributors to maximum  water wastage, here are few more common causes of water wastage:

• Washing car with high pressure water pumps.
• Using old and out dated washing machines and dishwashers.
• Poor water management.
• Serving bottled or packaged water at festivals or gatherings.

What is the Impact of Wastewater on the Environment?

Wastewater poses serious environmental threats, primarily through pollution and harmful contamination. When sewage and other wastewaters are released without proper treatment, they can infiltrate water bodies and endanger aquatic ecosystems. This polluted water can harm marine life and make natural water sources unsafe for human use.

Additionally, if untreated wastewater escapes through leaks or during floods, it can directly enter rivers, lakes, or groundwater systems, leading to further environmental degradation.

Treating wastewater is energy-intensive and often relies on fossil fuels. As a result, the treatment process itself contributes to greenhouse gas emissions, adding to the global carbon footprint and affecting air quality.

Essential Global Insights on Water Wastage and Consumption Trends

When examining the growing concern around global water wastage, it’s crucial to understand how daily water use differs across various nations. By observing these differences, we can assess how our own water consumption habits compare and where improvements can be made.

These statistics reveal striking variations in how water is used worldwide. Some countries consume far more water per person each day than others, underscoring the urgent need for a more unified global approach to reduce waste and protect our shared water resources.

Below are the average daily water usage figures per individual (in litres), organised alphabetically by country:

Australia: 340

Belgium: 7,406

Brazil: 108

Canada: 329

China: 178

France: 150

Germany: 121

Israel: 100–230

Italy: 6,500

Japan: 286.5

Kenya: 50

Mexico: 5,419

New Zealand: 250–300

Norway: 180

Portugal: 6,203

Russia: 279

Spain: 132

UK: 142

USA: 373

Belgium tops the list with an astounding 7,406 litres used daily per person, while Kenya, at the bottom, averages just 50 litres. This contrast highlights both overconsumption and severe scarcity. Surprisingly, China, the most populous country, has a much lower per capita usage than many Western nations.

These numbers emphasise the impact of individual behaviour. Each person’s usage contributes to a larger environmental footprint, and changing these habits can have a collective effect. For countries facing water shortages, even small efforts can lead to improved access and sustainability.

As the global demand for water continues to rise, conserving what we have becomes not just necessary, but urgent. Ensuring equitable access to clean water is a shared responsibility that must start with awareness and responsible usage.

How to Reduce the Wastage of Water at Home?

Protecting the environment begins with small changes at home. Changing water habits might seem challenging, but even simple actions can make a big difference. One person’s effort is impactful, and when families or communities adopt these habits, the combined effect is even greater in conserving water resources.

Install low-flow fixtures

Upgrading your home with low-flow showerheads and faucets can significantly reduce water usage. These fixtures lower water pressure to save water without sacrificing comfort. They’re especially useful in busy households where multiple people use bathrooms frequently. Plus, you can save money on water and energy bills with these efficient systems.

Take shorter showers and use less bathwater

Long showers and full baths use large amounts of water. Try to limit showers to just a few minutes and avoid filling the tub completely unless necessary. Being mindful of water use during showers and baths can drastically cut down water wastage without compromising your hygiene or relaxation.

Avoid washing small laundry loads

Running washing machines with half-empty loads wastes water and energy. Plan your laundry so you only run full loads. Choosing clothing items that can be washed together by colour and fabric type helps build full loads more easily, reducing the frequency of partial cycles and saving water.

Turn off the tap while brushing teeth

Leaving the tap running during brushing wastes gallons of water daily. Instead, turn off the water while you brush, only turning it on briefly to rinse. Teaching this simple habit to children can create a lifelong water-saving routine and reduce unnecessary water use significantly.

Fill the sink halfway for washing dishes

When doing dishes by hand, avoid filling the sink completely if it’s not needed. A half-full sink can clean dishes effectively while reducing water use. If you need fresh water during washing, try to keep the initial water level shallow to minimise total water consumption.

Collect and reuse rainwater

Collecting rainwater is an excellent way to conserve water for household tasks such as watering plants or cleaning. Using rainwater reduces your reliance on treated water and lowers your overall consumption, contributing to water conservation efforts and reducing your environmental impact.

Repair unnecessary leaks

Fixing leaks is a simple yet effective way to save water at home. Dripping taps, leaking pipes, or constantly running toilets can waste thousands of litres over time if left unchecked. Regularly inspecting and repairing such leaks helps conserve valuable water and prevents long-term damage to plumbing and surroundings.

6 Key Water and Water Waste Facts

Discover eye-opening facts about how everyday habits contribute to water waste, and why conserving this precious resource is more urgent than ever.

– Just 1% of the Earth’s total water is drinkable. This makes freshwater an incredibly limited and vital resource that must be protected from waste.

– Leaving the faucet running while brushing your teeth can result in as much as five gallons of clean water being wasted every time.

– Showers and baths account for about 27% of domestic water use. Excessive bathing, prolonged showers, or multiple showers a day can lead to significant water loss.

– Flushing the toilet once uses approximately 3.5 gallons of water, making it one of the largest sources of indoor water consumption.

– A single load in a washing machine typically requires up to 40 gallons of water, especially in older models.

– Water leaks in a household can add up to nearly 9,400 gallons of wasted water annually, according to data from the United States.

Conclusion: 

Water is a vital yet rapidly depleting resource, often wasted through everyday actions and systemic neglect. Addressing this crisis starts at home and in the workplace with mindful habits, efficient appliances, and collective responsibility. At Green Sutra, we advocate for sustainable water use and provide practical solutions to help individuals and communities conserve this essential resource for a better tomorrow.