Is Taking a Bath a Waste of Water? (How Much Can You Save?)

On average, most people shower or bathe at least once every day.

But is taking a bath a waste of water? Are there conservative alternatives to bathing that can help you save on water use?

This article compares baths and showers to discover which are more wasteful. We invite you to join us as we explore ways to save water whether you are taking a bath or showering!

Is Taking a Bath a Waste of Water? (How Much Can You Save?)

Compared to showers, baths do tend to waste more water. It takes about 50 gallons of water to fill a tub. A shower runs at approximately 2.5 gallons a minute. So a 10-minute shower would use 25 gallons of water. This is half the amount of water a bath would use.

It sounds absurd that a shower, with all that water running down the drain, saves more water than a bath. But that’s the case!

Tips for Saving Water When Taking a Bath

Baths are a great way to relieve tension and soothe your muscles. Treating yourself to one every once in a while is a good idea.

We mentioned earlier that baths use more water than showers. However, you can still save water when bathing.

Here’s how.

● Fill the bath halfway instead of to the brim to avoid spillage

● Plug in the drain before you open the faucet instead of waiting for the water to get hot first

● If the water in the tub is not hot enough and you pass the halfway mark, use a bucket to fetch some of the water. You can use that water for plants or the toilet

How to Save Water While Taking a Shower

Showers are responsible for about 20 percent of the water usage in an average home. Therefore, changing your shower habits can considerably impact how much water you save as a household.

Here are some showering tips you can implement to strengthen water conservation efforts.

Use the “Navy Shower” Method

A Navy shower is a technique the Navy use when aboard ships that aids them in saving fresh water.

All you do is turn on the shower long enough to get wet, then turn the shower off when soaping up.

After lathering up, you turn the water back on and rinse off.

This method can save you a lot on water use (you save approximately 95 percent of the water you’d otherwise have used in normal showering).

It’s a very efficient way of showering because it not only saves water but time as well.

Use a Steam Shower

Steam showers are very water-efficient. They also combine the sauna’s leisure and the regular shower’s cleaning factor.

They use about two gallons of water for a 20-minute shower. This saves so much more water than a regular shower or a bath.

Additionally, steam showers have several health benefits, including:

● Enhanced circulation

● Decreased stress levels

● Recovery from workouts

● Skin benefits

However, consult your physician at length about the effects of steam showers. Some people claim that their skin becomes dry after a long steam session.

Install a Low-Flow Showerhead

A low-flow showerhead is a shower that saves water by releasing less water per minute.

Whereas a regular showerhead produces 2.5 gallons per minute, a low-flow releases 2 gallons or less per minute.

Some people shun low-flow showers claiming that they have lower pressure. Granted, older models did have pressure issues and would even reduce the expected shower spray into a stream of water.

However, newer models combine smaller apertures and air to produce a satisfactory shower spray.

Modern-day heads of this kind produce a spray coverage that is neither too wide nor too narrow.

Avoid Water Leaks

Whenever you’re done showering, turn off the shower completely. A lot of water goes to waste because of leaking faucets and shower heads!

Most times, one can tell when there is a leak in the house because of the constant dripping noise.

However, there are instances when you have a water leak but cannot hear the dripping.

This may be because the leak is underground. Check for unexplainable spikes in your water bill to confirm that you do not have water leaks.

Comparing Different Shower Types and Baths

This table compares baths and different types of showers in terms of cost, waste, and health benefits.

	Bath	Regular shower	Low-flow shower	Steam shower
Water use	About 50 gallons per bath	25 gallons for a 10-minute shower	20 gallons for a 10-minute shower	1 gallon for a 10-minute shower
Energy efficiency	Low	Average in comparison to the rest	High because the water to be heated is less	Very high because of the small amount of water used
Overall cost	High	Depends on how much time is spent in the shower	Low	Low
Health benefits	Relaxation and improved sleep	Immunity boost and increased blood flow	Immunity boost and increased blood flow	Improved circulation, skin care and detoxification

Conclusion

Starting your day with a bath or shower is, without a doubt, a normality in today’s world. Water conservation efforts encourage us to save water when performing this necessary ritual.

Baths use more water and energy per session than the regular shower. Therefore, consider the necessity of taking a bath daily and explore more water-efficient options.