Today, we’re going to challenge our minds so that we understand the importance of constantly questioning ourselves—our habits, our assumptions, and the status quo—while always staying open to inquiry and innovation in every aspect of our lives.
Now, let’s talk about water consumption.
Globally, 70% of water is used for agriculture, 20% for industry, and only 10% for domestic use.
Let’s focus on that 10%.
In every country, there is a typical ratio of liters per person per day used for domestic purposes. This metric is also commonly used when designing wastewater treatment plants.
The key performance indicator (KPI) varies significantly by country, but in developed nations, it typically ranges between 130 and 180 liters per person per day.
The formula is straightforward: the more people in the world, the more water we consume, the more wastewater we generate and treat, and the greater the risk of disrupting nature’s balance by using more water than can be replenished through natural cycles (groundwater, rainfall, surface water, etc.). Additionally, increased wastewater can heighten the risk of contamination.
Governments and utilities recognize that the solution is not just investing in new infrastructure but also promoting efficient water use.
Setting targets to reduce this consumption ratio can have a significant impact.
Now, think about your own water usage. What are the main sources of domestic water consumption?
Showers, dishwashing, washing machines, handwashing, and flushing the toilet.
How can we optimize any of these?
The last thing you’d probably consider is flushing the toilet—but that’s exactly where we want to challenge your thinking.
Flushing a toilet uses 3 to 5 liters per flush, mostly to dispose of urine, which is the most frequent reason we flush.
That means we can easily waste 20, 30, or even 50 liters of clean water per day just for this purpose.
Our guest, Mark Gilligan, challenges us not just to reduce but to eliminate the need for flushing in this context, and introduces Wiszo.
Now, imagine scaling this idea beyond your home—to hotels, restaurants, and other public spaces.
If this solution works, what are the barriers?
Psychological resistance is one; convincing my wife not to flush might be a challenge! But with education and experimentation, mindsets can change.
Are there hidden environmental or health risks? These are questions we openly discuss in this episode.
Here’s an interesting fact: Ireland has no water tariff. Sounds crazy, right? Water costs are included in property taxes.
As a takeaway, this episode aims to awaken your awareness that every detail matters. Innovation can happen at any level of the industry.
Examples of Government Actions
The UK government has set legally binding targets under the Environment Act 2021 to decrease personal water use.
The goal is to reduce household water consumption to 122 liters per person per day by 2038, representing a 20% reduction.
This is part of a broader strategy aiming for 110 liters per person per day by 2050.
In October 2024, Barcelona introduced a regulation requiring new buildings to recycle shower water for toilet flushing.
This initiative aims to save approximately a third of annual household water consumption.
