Final answer:
Using a low-flow shower head can save at least 4 gallons of water per shower. Annually, this could amount to a saving of 1,460 gallons per person, and in a four-person household, the saving could reach 5,840 gallons.
Step-by-step explanation:
By using a low-flow shower head, significant amounts of water can be conserved. A standard shower head typically uses about 2.5 gallons of water per minute (gpm), whereas low-flow shower heads use less than 2.0 gpm. If we assume an average shower duration of 8 minutes, switching to a low-flow shower head could save at least 4 gallons per shower. If one person showers once a day, that adds up to a saving of 1,460 gallons per year, just for a single person. In a household of four people, that could lead to a yearly saving of 5,840 gallons of water.
These savings not only reduce indoor water use but also result in energy savings as less water needs to be heated. Given that the median indoor water use is about 125 gallons per household per day, incorporating low-flow fixtures such as shower heads is a simple yet effective method to make a household more environmentally friendly and can lead to lower utility costs over time.