Residential water use trends in North America

Abstract

Many water utilities have noted that average residential water use has fallen even though the number of customer households continues to grow, a trend observed in many communities and not confined to water‐scarce regions. Several theoretical reasons have been advanced to explain these declining trends, including wetter weather, new water‐conserving appliances, changing demographics, and classification anomalies. Although declining water use is dependent on many factors and local conditions, a key reason appears to be the increased use of water‐conserving fixtures and appliances. To date, however, no definitive statement could be made as to the validity of these hypotheses or the amount each contributes to the observed decline in residential water use. This research assessed each component's contribution to decreasing water use by critically evaluating national, regional, and local data trends. The understanding of residential customer water use resulting from this study indicates that this declining trend is not a temporary condition. Water utilities should assess their own regional water use characteristics and appropriately adjust to the trend of reduced water sales to residential customers.