Common Causes of High Water Use

Typical Home Water Use

Item

Water Usage

Toilet

3 gallons / 11 litres per flush 

Shower 

4 gallons / 15 litres per minute 

Tub/bath

30 gallons / 113 litres per fill

Dishwasher

14 gallons / 52 litres per load

Clothes washer

50 gallons / 189 litres per load

Garden hose

360 gallons / 1,362 litres per hour

Pool (14’ X 28’ /  5.5 ft. deep)

15,000 gallons / 56,781 litres per fill

Common Causes of High Water Usage

Item

Water Usage

Toilet (overflow tube leak) 

Up to 4,320 gallons / 15,352 litres per day

Toilet (flush valve leak)

Up to 4,320 gallons / 15,352 litres per day 

Faucet dripping

Up to 405 gallons / 1,533 litres per day

Lawn/garden hose

Up to 360 gallons / 1,362 litres per hour

Houseguests

Dependent on number of guests 

How to Detect a Water Leak

To detect a water leak, follow this procedure

  1. At the end of your day, ensure that no water is being used in your house (washing machines, dishwashers, sprinklers or toilets being flushed) and record the number on your water meter. 
  2. Do not use any water overnight. (Do not flush toilets.) 
  3. First thing in the morning, check the number on your water meter. 
  4. If the number has changed, then you have a water leak somewhere inside or outside of your house. 
To detect a toilet leak, follow this procedure

Toilet leaks may be easy to repair, but detecting them is a great challenge, especially when they are completely silent. The first indication of a water leak is an increase in your water consumption. Here is a very quick and easy method to detect a toilet leak.

  1. Remove the tank lid of the toilet. 
  2. Drop five drops of food colouring in the toilet tank. If you do not have food colouring, try using Worcestershire sauce or any very dark liquid. 
  3. Replace the toilet lid and wait 30 minutes. 
  4. Survey the toilet bowl. If the water is clear, then there is no leak in your toilet. If the water has changed colour, there is a leak present. 
  5. Repeat the process with all toilets in the house. 
Tip Image

Leaks can be extremely wasteful and very costly. Regularly checking taps, pipes and fittings around your property could save water and money. Some leaks are difficult to detect.

Municipal Water Departments

Visit these municipal links to information about water conservation, how to read your water meter, monitoring and calculating your water use, and more: