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Indicator: Water Consumption

Data and Data Discussion provided by King County Benchmark Program

Daily Per Capita Water Consumption of King County SPU Retail Customers

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Upstream Indicators
  •   Green Building Stock --- The number of green buildings in all categories are increasing: LEED Certified, Silver, Gold, and Platinum, and BuiltGreen Homes to the 3, 4, and 5 star level in King County.  (view data graph)
  •   Planned Density --- From 1996-2000 to 2002-2004, residential densities increased in King County. The 2004 density of 6.4 lots per acre for King County as a whole exceeds the benchmark of six lots per acre.  (view data graph)
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Downstream Indicators
  •   Carbon Footprint --- Since 2004, the state's and King County's emissions have been on the rise. In particular, transportation related GHG emissions and total energy use in King County continue to rise.  (view data graph)
  •   Consumer Environmental Index --- Through their purchasing decisions, Washington consumers have increased their total environmental impacts by 24% since 2000. Even on a per capita basis consumption impacts have gone up 17%.   (view data graph)
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Related Goals

How we treat water depends on how we value natural resources. Our consumptive habits can be influenced by building practices and appliances and directly impacts the quantity and quality of surface and ground water.

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Sustainability Snapshot:

Despite our damp climate, the Central Puget Sound depends on snowpack for summer water supplies – a renewable resource, but one subject to major fluctuations caused by annual changes in the weather. In addition to the myriad demands on our water supply, we must now factor in the risk of reduced supply due to climate change. In recent decades, we have been moving closer to sustainability in our personal use, thanks to effective and visionary conservation efforts. This same foresight is needed to deal with the potential ripple effects of future increased competition for water.

Sustainability Trend:

Seattle Public Utility's (SPU) retail customers decreased water consumption 35% over the last 16 years.

Data Discussion

The Indicator Defined

Per capita water consumption in King County; billed water use by sector in King County.

Data Interpretation/Evaluation

Seattle Public Utility's (SPU) retail customers decreased water consumption 35% over the last 16 years, with multifamily and commercial consumption showing a slightly greater decrease than single family consumption. The largest annual change in consumption occurred in 1992 as a result of severe drought conditions and mandatory water use restrictions. Since then, a number of factors have kept water demand down including higher water rates, conservation efforts and improved system operations. While water consumption has shown a downward trend in the last several decades, annual fluctuations -- due partly to summer weather patterns in the region -- have occurred. The effect of weather can be seen in the 4% increase in water consumption in 2006, which recorded the driest summer months since 1976 accompanied by warmer than average temperatures.

Data Source and Limitations

Data provided by Seattle Public Utilties (SPU) and analyzes only SPU-provided retail water consumption.  SPU provides potable water for approximately 70% of King County's population, either through direct service or through wholesale provision by 27 other water utilities.  Almost one-half of SPU's customers are direct, retail customers, with the remainder being wholesale customers.  This indicator reports only the consumption patterns of SPU's retail customers.

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