Idahoans use the most water

Water usage in the U.S. is down. But people in our region individually use more than the national average. In fact, in Idaho, we use more than people in all other states.

Idahoans use 168 gallons of water per person per day. The national average is 88 gallons per day.

Idaho’s number may be pretty high, but experts say we’re not being wasteful and that number has a lot to do with the area we live in.

Being in a farming community plays a big role in water usage and so does the climate.

“When we have these severe cold periods in the state our cities are telling our residents ‘run your water all the time run a small stream of water so your pipes do not freeze,” said Roger Warner, the vice president of Rocky Mountain Environmental.

Warner also says the water isn’t being wasted because it gets recycled.

The Idaho Falls Water Department also says climate plays a factor in the water use.