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The water consumption of a detached house can increase significantly if a garden also has to be irrigated. However, there are ways to reduce the consumption and thus lower the costs
These are the average values for water consumption in a single-family house with a garden
Washing clothes, cooking, showering, bathing, cleaning, watering flowers – all this uses water. How much water is actually needed depends on various factors.
- The amount of water used in a single-family home depends above all on the number of people living in it. On average, 127 litres of water are consumed per person per day in Germany.
- Thus, a household with four people uses an average of 508 litres of water daily. That makes 185,420 litres a year.
- Whoever also has to supply a garden with water should reckon with an additional 15 litres of water per square metre of garden area per week. However, only in the warm months. The actual amount of water needed for the garden depends on the size of the garden, the plants cultivated in it and the weather conditions.
These are the costs you should expect for water consumption in a detached house with garden
The tap water in Germany is of excellent quality. It can therefore also be used as drinking water without hesitation. Compared to packaged water from the supermarket, it is unbeatably cheap.
- The price of water can vary depending on the supplier. On average, you have to pay around 0.2 cents per litre of tap water in Germany. So if you use 185,420 litres a year for a four-person household, you will have to pay an average of 370.84 euros.
- Significantly more expensive are the costs for waste water. You automatically have to pay this price per litre of drinking water used, because the used water has to be treated again at great expense. An average of 0.4 cents per litre is charged for this. The average cost for a household with four people is 741.68 euros.
- These prices increase accordingly if you also supply your garden with tap water. Depending on the size of the garden, the cost of this can easily exceed the price of water used in the house during the hot summer months. However, if you install an extra meter for the garden water, you can at least save on the wastewater charge for this.
How to reduce water consumption in a family home with a garden
You can significantly influence how much water you actually use. And with decreasing consumption, you not only reduce costs, but also protect the environment.
- If you take a short shower instead of a bath, you can save a lot of water. You will use even less water for personal hygiene if you turn off the water when soaping and shampooing. Don’t let the water run when brushing your teeth.
- Only run appliances such as the washing machine and dishwasher when they are full. This will help you avoid unnecessary extra rinsing cycles. However, be careful not to overfill the appliances, otherwise dishes and laundry may not get properly clean.
- Use as much rainwater as possible for watering the garden. Above all, collect water from roof areas in appropriate rain barrels. Depending on the size of the garden and its location, a cistern or well may also be worthwhile.
- Do not water young plants too vigorously, but rather sparingly. This encourages the plants to reach deeper into the soil with their roots and look for water there on their own. Also protect the soil in the garden with a layer of mulch. This protects against evaporation and keeps the soil moist for longer.
