Low-Flow Water Savings Calculator
Showerhead, faucets and toilet — the three fixtures that account for most indoor water use. See gallons and dollars saved per year.
Assumes one shower per person per day, 5 flushes per person per day, and faucet aerators saving 0.5 gpm over 8 minutes of tap use per person per day. Excludes water-heating energy savings, which are additional.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a low-flow showerhead really save?
Swapping a 2.5 gpm head for a 1.75 gpm head saves 0.75 gallons a minute. For a family of four taking 8-minute showers daily that is about 8,760 gallons a year — and because most of it is hot water, the water heating saving is usually larger than the water bill saving.
Why does the calculator ask for sewer cost separately?
Most utilities bill sewer based on water consumed, often at a higher rate than the water itself. Ignoring it understates savings by roughly half. Check your bill — both line items usually appear.
Do low-flow showerheads feel weak?
Older ones did. Modern designs use aeration or pressure-compensation to maintain the feel of the spray at lower volume. Look for the WaterSense label, which requires performance testing rather than just a flow limit.
Is a toilet swap worth it?
It is the single biggest indoor water use in most homes. Pre-1994 toilets use 3.5 to 7 gallons per flush against 1.28 for a modern WaterSense model. If you still have an original toilet, that swap usually dwarfs everything else on this list.
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