2B: Variability in Utah's residential water use

Residential water use in Utah is estimated to be as high as 169 gallons per capita per day. That is the second largest volume in the U.S. Public water suppliers serve nearly 98% of Utah’s population, one of the highest rates in the country. Utah has high urban density, limited water availability, and a growing population. The cost of delivering water to urban areas makes managing and reducing demand vital to continue providing a clean and safe water supply.

Collecting the right data can help water providers manage demand and plan for the future. It is important to know the total amount of water used, and also how and when people use water. Factors to consider include daily consumption patterns, common uses like showers and toilets, how the distribution of those uses varies over time, and potential savings that conservation programs might achieve. Standard water use data does not typically show water-use peak times or volume and does not quantify indoor versus outdoor water use.

Utah State researchers have developed new technology to collect more accurate water-use data from residential households. This allows more detailed studies of behavior and more detailed understanding of distribution across various water uses. These studies have found that a single per capita water use estimate doesn’t capture the difference between households, or even changes over time for a single household. Results also indicated that people generally are not overwatering their landscapes, indicating that saving water outdoors may depend on changing landscapes and not just watering less. Finally, researchers found significant opportunities for conservation inside homes, such as replacing inefficient water fixtures.