Litres per task: where a city household's water goes

When taps run dry, it helps to know where water actually goes. Indian planners use a standard figure: the Bureau of Indian Standards code IS 1172 sets 135 litres per person per day as the minimum for towns with full flushing systems.

Task by task. As reported by The Hindu, describing the IS 1172 figures, that 135 litres breaks down roughly as: bathing 55, toilet flushing 30, washing clothes 20, washing utensils 10, cleaning the house 10, drinking 5 and cooking 5 litres. These are planning numbers, not measurements of any one home, but they show the pattern.

Where savings are. Drinking and cooking together are 10 of the 135 litres. Bathing, at 55 litres, is the largest single use, so it is the biggest place to save. Filling one bucket for a bath lets you see and cap how much you use. Turning the tap off while brushing or soaping, and washing clothes and dishes in full loads, help too.

Why it matters this year. After a weak monsoon in parts of the south, cities may ration supply. Saving water on washing and bathing keeps more available for drinking and cooking, for you and your neighbours.

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