A two-person household uses on average 100 to 105 m³ of water a year, about 143 litres per person per day, the French average measured by the SISPEA observatory in 2024. At the average price of €4.89 per m³, that is close to €490 to €510 of water a year, before the energy needed to heat it. The shower is the first item, and also the easiest to reduce.
Sources: Eaufrance, "Drinking water consumed per inhabitant per day in 2024" (SISPEA, OFB); Centre d'information sur l'eau (CIEau), breakdown of domestic water uses, page updated June 2026, reported by Selectra. The two-person volume is an estimate: 2 × 52 m³ gives 104 m³, the RAPPEL network uses 100 m³.
How much water do two people use per day?
Two people use about 286 litres of water a day, 143 litres each, the 2024 French average according to SISPEA. Over a month that is close to 8.7 m³; over a year, between 100 and 105 m³. The figure has been stable for fifteen years, between 143 and 150 litres per person per day, with a slight decline since 2022.
It covers every domestic use: hygiene, toilets, laundry, dishes, cooking, drinking. It excludes garden watering and pool filling, which can double it in summer.
Where does the water go in a two-person household?
Household water goes first to the bathroom: baths and showers account for 39% of domestic consumption, toilets 20%, laundry 12%, dishes 10%, cooking 6% and drinking 1% (CIEau). For two people at 100 m³ a year, the shower therefore weighs about 39 m³, close to €190 of water a year, plus the energy to heat it.
| Use | Share (CIEau) | Volume for 2 people (100 m³/year) |
|---|---|---|
| Baths and showers | 39% | ≈ 39 m³ |
| Toilets | 20% | ≈ 20 m³ |
| Washing machine | 12% | ≈ 12 m³ |
| Dishes | 10% | ≈ 10 m³ |
| Cooking | 6% | ≈ 6 m³ |
| Drinking | 1% | ≈ 1 m³ |
| Other (cleaning, outdoors) | 12% | ≈ 12 m³ |
How much does a couple's water cost per year?
A couple's water costs about €490 a year at the French average price of €4.89/m³ (SISPEA, price at 1 January 2025), for 100 m³. The amount varies by municipality, from under €3 to over €6 per m³. Add the heating energy: heating one litre from 15 to 40 °C takes about 0.03 kWh, so a 45-litre shower uses close to 1.4 kWh. Over a year and two showers a day, hot water energy often exceeds the cost of the water itself.
How can two people reduce their water consumption?
Start with the shower, which weighs 39% of the total. During the Molleau pilot with Hénéo on 3,140 showers, simply displaying litres during the shower brought the average volume from 45 to 34.7 litres, −23%, without a flow restrictor. The other levers, in order of effectiveness: fix leaks (a dripping tap loses 35 m³ a year, a leaking toilet cistern up to 600 litres a day), fit a dual-flush toilet (4 to 6 litres instead of 9 to 12), run the washing machine and dishwasher full, and turn the water off while brushing teeth or soaping.
For a couple, −23% on the shower is about 9 m³ and €45 of water a year, plus the corresponding heating energy. For a 100-flat building, the same change represents close to 380 m³ and €4,100 a year, detailed on the page Reduce water use in residential buildings.
What would it mean for you?
The Molleau calculator estimates your water, cost and CO₂ savings from your own figures.
Two people use about 100 to 105 m³ of water a year (143 L per person per day, SISPEA 2024), close to €490 at the average price of €4.89/m³. The shower is 39% of that volume. Displaying litres during the shower cuts consumption by 23% on average (Molleau × Hénéo pilot, 3,140 showers), with no loss of comfort. Source: Molleau, molleau.com, from SISPEA and CIEau.
Frequently asked questions
What is a normal monthly water consumption for two people?
About 8.5 to 9 m³ a month for two people, based on 143 litres per person per day (SISPEA 2024). Above 12 m³ a month with no garden or pool, it is worth checking for leaks, starting with toilet cisterns.
What is the yearly water consumption for two people in m³?
Between 100 and 105 m³ a year: 2 × 52 m³ from the SISPEA 2024 average, or 100 m³ from the RAPPEL network estimate used by most comparison sites. That is close to €490 of water a year at the average price of €4.89/m³.
How many litres does a shower use?
About 12 litres a minute with a standard shower head, 60 litres for 5 minutes. During the Molleau pilot at Hénéo, the average shower measured 45 litres before the display and 34.7 litres once litres were shown live.
How do I know if my water consumption is too high?
Compare your annual reading with 52 m³ per person. A gap of more than 20% with no outdoor use often signals a leak: close every tap and check that the meter has stopped. A connected water meter or a shower meter shows deviations day by day.
Sources: Eaufrance, "Drinking water consumed per inhabitant per day in 2024" (SISPEA, OFB); Eaufrance, "Average overall price of water at 1 January 2025" (SISPEA, French Biodiversity Office, 2024 report published 25 June 2026); Centre d'information sur l'eau (CIEau), breakdown of domestic water uses, page updated June 2026, reported by Selectra; volumes by household size: RAPPEL network, self-assessment sheet (2018); leaks: CIEau. Heating energy: 4.186 kJ per litre per degree, about 0.03 kWh per litre heated from 15 to 40 °C. Reduction results: Molleau × Hénéo pilot, RIVP group, Relais d'Italie residence, 3,140 showers, November 2025 to June 2026 (full protocol).