Day–to-day water: facts and figures

Water is part of daily life in many ways. Yet often, we often fail to appreciate the all-important role that water plays. Only a look at the numbers reveals the many uses we have for water and which routines typically affect its consumption. If we take a close look at usage and quality, we can truly understand the key role that water plays in health, hygiene and quality of life. Modern electronic fittings help to ensure the simple, efficient and reliable handling of water.

Figures at a glance

Drinking water in households

Electronic fittings from SCHELL

Day–to-day water – always there, rarely questioned

Daily consumption in figures

The following details are based on average household consumption in industrial nations, especially Germany and other European countries. Actual consumption varies depending on region, infrastructure and lifestyle.

The average person uses 120–130 litres of water every day at home
Of this, only about 3–5 litres are literally consumed
More than 90 % is used for hygiene, cleaning and household tasks
A person comes into contact with water 30–50 times a day
More than half of these encounters last less than 15 seconds
Together, mornings and evenings account for more than 60 % of daily water use
Many people underestimate their own consumption by 20–30 %

Sources: Federal Environment Agency (Germany), German Federal Statistical Office, European Environment Agency (EEA).

Shower, WC, wash basin – where water is really needed

The vast majority of our water usage is concentrated in just a few places in our homes. The bathroom plays a particularly important role here.

60–70 % of overall water consumption happens in the bathroom
35–40 % results from taking showers and baths
The average shower consumes about 10–15 litres of water a minute
The average person showers for about 7–9 minutes
Flushing the toilet accounts for 25 % of daily water consumption
Depending on the WC system, a single flush uses 6–9 litres of water
Basins and sinks in bathrooms and kitchens are used most often
Individually, they don’t add much to consumption • Overall, though, they are still relevant, as they are used briefly but often

Sources: Federal Environment Agency (Germany), World Health Organization (WHO), European Environment Agency (EEA).

What these statistics say about our daily routines

In many industrial nations, using water is simply taken for granted. Individual uses seem unimportant. However, personal consumption is not the result of specific activities but established routines. If we look at our daily schedules in figures, the combined effects become clearer and we can better estimate our handling of water.

Drinking water in households – high quality shouldn’t be taken for granted

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Drinking water is part of daily life

In many households, tap water is part and parcel of the daily routine. As a nutrient, water is consumed more often than any food. In Germany, around 70 % of the population drinks tap water on a regular basis. Another 20 % or so use it at least occasionally for cooking or for making hot drinks. Drinking water also plays a key part in other types of daily activities. When people brush their teeth, about 1–6 litres of water go down the drain every minute. Washing fruit and vegetables also uses around 2–5 litres of water to get them clean.

What we expect from our household taps

Drinking water should always be available. It should be fresh, clear and ‘taste of nothing’. In Germany, stringent quality standards make sure this is true. Water utilities guarantee this qualityup to the service connection. From that point onwards, the responsibility lies with the building operator and the users themselves. Installation, operation and the regular use of tapping points also play a decisive role here.

Why regular use is important

Drinking water needs to be fresh. Its quality only stays stable if it is regularly used. Many households have tapping points that are not used on a daily basis, such as guest WCs. If water stagnates in the piping for a prolonged period, conditions in the system will start to change. Lengthy stagnation periods can impair water quality. After a longer period of absence it’s therefore recommended to deliberately flush out your taps, to ensure an exchange of water.

Using water intelligently – with electronic fittings from SCHELL

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Automated hygiene flushes

Electronic fittings from SCHELL can trigger stagnation flushes automatically. The exchange of water takes place without manual intervention. Flushes can be programmed as a schedule. In residential buildings, this is especially useful in the kitchen or the guest toilet. If these tapping points are at the end of the installation, water flows through the entire supply line with each flush. This helps to keep the water quality consistent throughout the home.

To protect drinking water hygiene, the GRANDIS E electronic designer kitchen tap from SCHELL offers the option of performing stagnation flushes at specified flush intervals. Accordingly, the tap water that would normally start to stagnate in the piping during a holiday of several days or even weeks can instead be regularly exchanged. This is essential for preventing the growth of harmful bacteria like Legionella in the installation and so maintaining the high quality of the drinking water.

Saving water and cutting energy costs

Electronic taps let the water flow only when it is actually needed. Contactless models respond to a sensor, using infrared or time-of-flight technology. Once hands are no longer present within the detection range, the flow of water stops immediately. Less water consumption also simultaneously lowers the energy demand for hot water heating. These savings are achieved without loss of comfort.

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Drinking water hygiene in the guest WC really can be so simple. Just the switch to an electronic tap – like the MODUS E from SCHELL, for example – can make all the difference. This tap supports the regular exchange of water and thus helps to avoid stagnation in rarely used sections of piping. Contactless taps from SCHELL can also cut water consumption by up to 70 percent when compared with conventional single-lever mixers.

Using water responsibly every day

In many parts of the world, water is always available, day in, day out, and its use is often taken for granted. Statistics can help to better understand our use of water. Regular use of fittings plays a major role in water quality. Technology can help in places where routines have their limits. Electronic taps combine comfort, safety and efficiency, and therefore help to ensure the controlled and resource-friendly use of water.