When you have an RV, life on the road can be thrilling and enjoyable. But there are a couple of things that can transform this enjoyment into frustration – things like chores. If you plan to go RVing, you must be curious to find out the average daily water consumption.
Well, the answer to the famous question how much water does an RV use per day? has a pretty ambiguous answer. The amount of water an RV uses per day depends on a number of factors and also on the fact that how well you consume or use the water.
On average, an RV uses 6.16 gallons or 23.3 liters of water per day. It is an average value for the total household use. However, if your RV living quarter accommodates more than the average individual limit, your daily water consumption rates will vary accordingly.
How Much Water Does an RV Use?
Here is a handy chart showing the different appliances in an RV along with their estimated water usages:
| Appliance | Amount of Water Used |
| RV Toilet | Half a gallon of water per flush |
| RV Shower | 2-6 gallons of water per shower |
| RV Dishwasher | 4-6 gallons of water per use |
| RV Washing Machine | 8-20 gallons of water per load |
How Much Water Does an RV Toilet Use? (per Flush)
If you are someone who is very particular about clean and tidy toilets, you must be in dire need to grasp all the necessary information regarding RV toilet use. Having a cushy spot in your trailer to answer nature’s call is vital to make your RVing comfortable.
Having a proper RV toilet with a sufficient amount of water is essential if you can’t afford to take leaks in the midst of a forest. Knowing the exact value of water an RV toilet uses per flush is essential too. The answer to this prime question lies in what type of RV toilet you have in your trailer.
Usually, gravity flush toilets take around half a gallon of water per flush. This amount is much less than a regular household toilet. As a matter of fact, how much water you use in an RV toilet also depends on how long you flush it.
If you are looking for other alternatives that use a little less or even no amount of water for flushing, you can go for a macerator or vacuum and compostable toilets. These toilets use vacuum power to pull the waste through the tube. This way, significantly less water is used in flushing.
Water-conserving and low-flow flushing toilets are key to a long-lasting water supply in your travel trailer. Foot pedal-operated toilets also draw a much lesser amount of water during flushing as compared to electric flushes.
Some RVers find RV toilets pointless smelly spots. Others find this feature absolutely necessary for life on the road. Whether you find them necessary or not, RV toilets are a consideration for every RV owner who travels or lives in an RV.
A sufficient water supply in an RV is necessary to prevent the amenity for disposing off stinking odors. If there is less or no water in the toilet, the nasty smell from the black water tank enters the RV and makes the whole vicinity smelly and sickening.
If you’re looking for a new toilet, we recommend this self contained toilet by Nature’s Head. It has a huge capacity and can withstand 2 people using this toilet full time for about 4-6 weeks.
How Much Water Does an RV Shower Use?
RV showers are an essential factor for RVing. When you plan to go on camping on your motorized RV, the first thought that pops in your mind is having your own washroom and getting to shower anytime and anywhere on the road. Because having to use communal toilets or showers is nothing more than a nightmare.
Having your own modern commodity in an RV is one thing but using enough water for showering is another. The process of showering in an RV is way different than showering at your home. It is because, in most cases, you use water from a holding tank.
On average, an RV shower uses 2-6 gallons of water per shower. However, this value is not unequivocal and depends on a number of factors such as shower time, shower head flow rate, etc. This value also varies from person to person and from RV to RV.
If you shower from the water in a holding tank of your RV, you will be dependent solely on the amount of water present in the holding tank. You will also have to check the grey scale tank’s limit if your trailer is not hooked with a sewer system. A grey scale tank holds the amount of water used during showering.
On the contrary, if your travel trailer is hooked up to a water source at a campground and also has a proper water disposal system, you will be able to shower for as long as you want. However, this is not recommended since you might run out of the hot water supply intended for use in the shower.
Besides the tank systems, your RV class also dictates how much water your RV shower can use. You must also keep a check on the amount of time you spend under the shower, the shower’s optimum flow rate, and the type of showerhead you use.
It would be best if you keep in mind that an RV shower doesn’t offer you the luxury of taking long showers, so your shower time must be as little as possible. The flow rate, an efficient showerhead, and your time management under the shower are critical factors in determining your RV shower’s water consumption rate.
How Much Water Does an RV Dishwasher Use?
When you go camping in an RV, you expect it to be adventurous and fun. During all this chaotic adventure, no one wants to spend their time washing dishes. Dishwashers for RV are specialized in both function and size, which makes them suitable for small space.
RV dishwashers are undoubtedly an expensive upgrade in an RV kitchen. But you will need an extra supply of water for this luxury. Knowing how much water your RV dishwasher uses is necessary to set an optimal dishwashing routine. It is also essential to know if you enjoy boondocking.
Using a dishwasher consumes a whole lot of water than handwashing dishes. It fills up the grey tank pretty quickly. On average, an RV dishwasher uses 4 to 6 gallons of water, excluding the amount of water used in rinsing the dishes before putting them in the dishwasher.
Besides using a lot of water, dishwashers tend to leak over the course of time and overuse. They can drain away a lot of water and cause water shortage problems in your RV. Most RV dishwashers eat up a considerable amount of off-grid power supply as well. Therefore, you must install a durable and energy-efficient dishwasher in your RV.
Although there are drawbacks to having an RV dishwasher, they are quite helpful too. They offer you the convenience of hiding your dirty dishes in the small kitchen facility of an RV. This feature makes it attractive to add an RV dishwasher to your RV.
A dishwasher in an RV adds a homey vibe to your RV kitchen and keeps you from handwashing all the dishes. This way, you can enjoy RVing to the max!
How Much Water Does an RV Washing Machine Use? (per Load)
Amid the course of traveling, no one gets enough time to get their clothes cleaned by visiting nearby cities or waiting in lines of the laundry. This thought led to the manufacture of RV washing machines for the people who are always on the road.
But before you get one, you must know the average water consumption of an RV washing machine. On average, an RV washing machine uses 8 to 20 gallons of water per load. This value ranges from the size and type of washer. Typically, RVs are equipped with a washer and dryer combo to save space and power in the RV.
The Washer Dryer combo saves space and is capable of washing and drying your clothes simultaneously. It saves you a whole lot of time on the road and also saves electricity. However, it uses a lot of water, around 20 to 25 gallons which may cause water shortage problems in your RV.
On the other hand, portable washers and dryers are water and power-efficient. They are great for people who like dry camping and boondocking. It is because electricity is not required to operate some parts of this washing and drying machine.
Portable washers do require electricity but consume only a small amount of both water and electricity. Usually, they can be connected directly to your faucet, and one load can be completed in more or less 10 minutes.
If you’re looking for a new washer and dryer combo, we recommend this portable washer and dryer set. It weighs a total of 28 pounds (before loading), is great for light and medium loads, and is easy to install. Overall, it is a great choice if you are looking for a lightweight, but powerful washer and dryer for your RV.
Final Thoughts
RVs are a perfect way to travel and appreciate the outdoors. They give an experience of life on the road. At the same time, they’re convenient to use andd make you feel relaxed. However, with improper maintainence, you can easily ruin your RV and shorten the vehicle’s lifespan.
Now that you know how much water an RV uses per day, you can adequately care for your vehicle. It’s essential to not run a RV on less water than it needs.
Doing so can cause a considerable number of damage to the working of the RV that you spent so much money on. Hence, always sum up how much money your RV will need and ensure you have that amount.