Town water usage

During the winter, the Town distributes approximately 4 million gallons of treated water per day. In the summer, the average use is almost 17 million gallons of treated water per day. 

Current annual consumption in the Town equals approximately 7,000 acre-feet. An acre-foot is about 326,000 gallons - or enough water to fill an acre one foot deep. Residential use accounts for the most water used in Town. For more information, view the Water Efficiency Master Plan.

• 74% for single and multi-family homes
• 14% for business and development
• 11% for irrigation only

Average household usage

On average, each Castle Rock resident uses about 120 gallons of water per day - this includes indoor use and outdoor irrigation. Here’s what 120 gallons looks like.

Note: Though irrigation does not occur in the winter months, those averages are still part of this calculation. This amount varies per year based on weather, and Castle Rock residents are currently at about 115 gallons per capita per day, based on a five-year average (2019 data).

• 54% outdoor use
• 13% toilets
• 10% clothes washer
• 10% showers
• 7% faucets
• 5% leaks
• 1% dishwasher and cleaning

How does your usage compare?

Every customer in Castle Rock is allocated an individualized amount of water. Your individualized water budget is not compared to your neighbor as they may have more people in their household and a larger landscape. 

The following estimates are based on Town-wide averages:

• Average number of people in a household: 2.8
• Average indoor monthly usage: 4,000 gallons
• Average outdoor monthly usage (April through October): 9,000 gallons for a 7,000 square foot yard

The comparison that should be made is how much you continue to keep your actual usage below your household budget. Your bill identifies your actual water usage against your budgeted amount. Your indoor water budget (Tier 1) is an average of your actual winter monthly consumption. Your outdoor water budget (Tier 2) calculates for irrigation. If you reach Tier 3, you are using more water than you should (or you may have a leak). An excessive use surcharge s applied for customers using more than 40,000 gallons per month. For conservation efforts, aim to keep your actual usage below your budgeted amount.