Water use
Clean water is vital to life. The average person uses 50 gallons of water a day. In Nashville, our water comes from the Cumberland River. The water is cleaned and transported to over 174,000 businesses and homes by the department of Metro Water Services. 
Where does the water go?
Below is a list of common water uses and the average amount used for each.
| Action | Water Used |
|---|---|
| Toilet Flush | 3 to 7 Gallons |
| Shower | 25 to 50 Gallons |
| Hand Washing | 2 Gallons (with tap running) |
| Brushing Teeth | 2 Gallons (with tap running) |
| Outdoor Watering | 5 to 10 Gallons per Minute |
| Automatic Dishwashing | 10 Gallons |
| Dishwashing By Hand | 20 Gallons |
| Tub Bath | 36 Gallons |
On
the average, 183 gallons of water is treated for each person every day.
Below is a breakdown of how that water is used.
| Action | Amount (Gallons) |
|---|---|
| Residential Use: Bathing, Cooking, Washing, etc. | 70 |
| Industrial Use: Factories, Office Buildings | 50 |
| Commercial Use: Hospitals, Restaurants, Sports | 35 |
| Public Use: Parks, Fighting Fires | 10 |
| Lost or Unaccounted for Water | 18 |
| Total | 183 |
Questions which are not addressed through this web site, please email Sonia Harvat.