Uploaded July 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
As the largest water-using customer segment in North America, the residential sector plays a critical role in overall demand. This presentation will describe the results from The Water Research Foundation's (WRF) 2026 Residential End Uses of Water, Version 3: A Single-Family and Multi-Family Study (project 5242), a comprehensive update to its landmark 1999 and 2016 studies. Together, these three studies provide a 30-year view of residential water use across North America, showing steady and significant gains in efficiency over time. This latest study confirms that, over the past three decades, indoor residential water use has become substantially more efficient—demonstrating the long-term impact of technology improvements, standards, and conservation efforts.
The study finds that water use in single-family homes has declined notably, particularly over the past decade, driven largely by reductions in indoor use.
Let's discuss how efficiency improvements in household fixtures and appliances continue to drive these trends, like going over examples of how clothes washers, in particular, have become significantly more efficient due to evolving federal energy standards.
The major finding from this research will be presented by the lead author.
Continuing Education Units (CEUS) submitted 1 hour in*
• Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI)
• Building Performance Institute (BPI) NonWholeHouse
• Submitted for American Institute of Architects - AIA (HSW)**
• Certified Green Professional (NARI & CGP)
• GHI Certified GreenHome Professional (CGHP) Pillar(s): Energy, Water
• American Institute of Building Designers (AIBD)
• Building Science Institute (BSI) Verifier
• Society of American Registered Architects (SARA)
**State Architect / Builder License may be applicable
Need CEUS?
Take the Quiz here:
greenhomeinstitute.thinkific.com/courses/residential-end-uses-of-water-v3-single-multifamily-study
Speaker:
Peter Mayer, Principal and Founder of WaterDM, is a professional engineer and urban water expert who has dedicated his career to advancing the science of water management. Peter’s work focuses on urban water management, water demand research, water efficiency planning, demand forecasting and utility metering. In 2016 Peter testified as Georgia's urban water expert at the US Supreme Court trial vs. FL. In 2025, Peter received the prestigious Water Star award from the Alliance for Water Efficiency. Peter was the lead author of all three Water Research Foundation Residential End Uses of Water studies. Over his career, Peter has worked with hundreds of water utilities and organizations across the US and Canada.
Lessons Learned
1. Understand that efficient residential water use significantly contributes to public health by ensuring access to clean water while reducing the risk of contaminants in indoor environments.
2. Analyze the importance of water-saving technologies in residential settings, as they enhance safety by preventing plumbing failures and leaks that can result in hazardous conditions.
3. Introduce community awareness programs focused on water conservation practices to promote social welfare and encourage collective responsibility towards sustainable water use.
4. Articulate the long-term benefits of efficient water use in households as essential for fostering environmental sustainability, thus supporting a resilient and equitable society.
As the largest water-using customer segment in North America, the residential sector plays a critical role in overall demand. This presentation will describe the results from The Water Research Foundation's (WRF) 2026 Residential End Uses of Water, Version 3: A Single-Family and Multi-Family Study (project 5242), a comprehensive update to its landmark 1999 and 2016 studies. Together, these three studies provide a 30-year view of residential water use across North America, showing steady and significant gains in efficiency over time. This latest study confirms that, over the past three decades, indoor residential water use has become substantially more efficient—demonstrating the long-term impact of technology improvements, standards, and conservation efforts.
The study finds that water use in single-family homes has declined notably, particularly over the past decade, driven largely by reductions in indoor use.
Let's discuss how efficiency improvements in household fixtures and appliances continue to drive these trends, like going over examples of how clothes washers, in particular, have become significantly more efficient due to evolving federal energy standards.
The major finding from this research will be presented by the lead author.
Continuing Education Units (CEUS) submitted 1 hour in*
• Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI)
• Building Performance Institute (BPI) NonWholeHouse
• Submitted for American Institute of Architects - AIA (HSW)**
• Certified Green Professional (NARI & CGP)
• GHI Certified GreenHome Professional (CGHP) Pillar(s): Energy, Water
• American Institute of Building Designers (AIBD)
• Building Science Institute (BSI) Verifier
• Society of American Registered Architects (SARA)
**State Architect / Builder License may be applicable
Need CEUS?
Take the Quiz here:
greenhomeinstitute.thinkific.com/courses/residential-end-uses-of-water-v3-single-multifamily-study
Speaker:
Peter Mayer, Principal and Founder of WaterDM, is a professional engineer and urban water expert who has dedicated his career to advancing the science of water management. Peter’s work focuses on urban water management, water demand research, water efficiency planning, demand forecasting and utility metering. In 2016 Peter testified as Georgia's urban water expert at the US Supreme Court trial vs. FL. In 2025, Peter received the prestigious Water Star award from the Alliance for Water Efficiency. Peter was the lead author of all three Water Research Foundation Residential End Uses of Water studies. Over his career, Peter has worked with hundreds of water utilities and organizations across the US and Canada.
Lessons Learned
1. Understand that efficient residential water use significantly contributes to public health by ensuring access to clean water while reducing the risk of contaminants in indoor environments.
2. Analyze the importance of water-saving technologies in residential settings, as they enhance safety by preventing plumbing failures and leaks that can result in hazardous conditions.
3. Introduce community awareness programs focused on water conservation practices to promote social welfare and encourage collective responsibility towards sustainable water use.
4. Articulate the long-term benefits of efficient water use in households as essential for fostering environmental sustainability, thus supporting a resilient and equitable society.
