Waking Up to Family Water Use

By the time a family of four gets to the breakfast table each morning, chances are good they’ve already used more than half the 300 gallons of water that is being discussed by the state water control board as a possible daily household ration.

How did they do that? Assuming they have neither installed water-saving devices nor developed conservation habits, they used:

* 100 gallons for four quick (about 3 minutes) showers or tub baths.

* 24 gallons for one trip each to the toilet.

* 20 gallons for each to brush his or her teeth with the water running.

* 10 gallons for one shave with the water running.

If a morning household routine includes washing one load of laundry (average of 35 gallons) and another of dishes (15-gallon average), they approach the lunch hour with less than one-third of their allotment left.

Just how might they use the remaining 96 gallons? Assume each family member uses the toilet only twice more by the end of the day: Now they’re down to 48 gallons.

And their options are narrowing.

Water the garden with a half-inch hose? Better finish in six minutes. Wash the car? Probably only half of it, or forget a rinse.

Whatever the choices, their future seems certain: Southern Californians who don’t adopt some new and frugal ways of using water will turn on the tap some afternoon or evening . . . and nothing will come out.