How to check water flow rate

Check the water flow of a faucet or showerhead to find out if it’s already low (5,7 l/min (1,5 gal/min). If it isn’t, you’d benefit by installing water- and energy-saving products, especially WaterSense® labeled items, which have a flow up to 40% less than that of conventional products. The flow is marked on some equipment. If it isn’t, follow the instructions below.

What you need

  • Large measuring container

  • Pencil and paper

  • Calculator (if necessary)

  • Time : 10 minutes
  • Difficulty : 1
  • Investment : low
  • Yield : low

How-tos

1
Turn on the tap all the way
2
Place a measuring container under the water and count exactly five seconds
3
Remove the container and note how many litres of water are in it
4
Multiply this number by 12 to obtain the flow rate in litres per minute

Let’s say that in five seconds, you collected 0.85 L. That means the flow is 10.2 L/min (0.85 L times 12). You’d have everything to gain by installing water- and energy-saving products. A five-minutes shower uses the equivalent of more than a hundred 500-mL water bottles when the showerhead flow rate is 10.2 L/min! Those figures may not be highly precise, but they’ll help everyone in your family understand the importance of using water responsibly. WaterSense® labeled showerheads restrict the flow to 7.6 L/min.

See also