Ryan Harms’ Water

Consumption in

Alaska

How living in a “dry” cabin saves

money and resources.

Living without Running WaterAccording to the American Water Works

Association, the average American household

consumes 69.7 gallons of water/person each

day. *

Source: The American

Water Works

Association

I set out to answer

one simple question:

How much less water

do I use than the

“average” American

household?

I set out to answer one simple question:

How much less water do I consume

Than the “average” American

Household?

Some Important Factors to

ConsiderAn “average” American household is assumed

to have these amenities:

I live in a “dry”

cabin…

…and have

none of these.

Average American Household Daily Per Capita Water Consumption by

Gallons and Percentage

Toilets---18.5

Clothes Washers--15

Showers---11.6

Faucets---10.9

Leaks---9.5

Baths---1.2

Dishwasers---1.0

Other Domestic Use---1.6

Source: American Water Works Association

You May Have Noticed

Something About the Big 3 Toilets account for

more than one

quarter of all water

used by the average

American each day.

That’s a lot of waste!

Imagine all the water that could be saved if everyone followed

“if it’s yellow, let it mellow, if it’s brown, flush it down.”

My Personal Water

Consumption Habits November 9-16, 2009.

Total water used: 49.5 gallons.

Leaves me wondering…

How is it possible that by average, every

man, woman, and child in America consumes

69.7 gallons a day, when I do not consume that

much water in a week?

What are people doing out there?

Possible Explanations for the

High Average in America

The average household resident is assumed to have the “amenities,” so is possibly not at all conscious of the amount of water they waste.

Many people live in water abundant places and simply don’t think of the cost associated with simple water services.

What I learned about water

prices! Here in Healy, the minimum cost of having

a well at your own home is approximately

$6,000.

It’s likely to cost more than $10,000.

Source: Aurora Drilling, Fairbanks.

Some Questions I’m Still

Asking Myself

How much does the average city dweller

pay for city water services?

How many showers and loads of laundry

could I get at Chevron for $10,000.

What is the dollar amount ascribed to one

gallon of potable water, worldwide, if such

a number exists?

Thoughts for the Future

Water conservation begins at home:

there’s no time like right now to begin

paying attention.

International efforts are being made to

bring about greater awareness for the

need to conserve water worldwide.

For more details.

Resources

American Water Works Association www.drinktap.org/

Aurora Drilling. Fairbanks, AK. (907) 456-6712

Telephone Interview with customer Service

Stockholm International Water Institute www.siwi.org/