Official Government Website

Water Use Information

The ability to calculate the typical amount of water needed for a specific task is important in water management planning. Water rights are limited to the quantity of water that can be beneficially used. Here are some water use standards used by IDWR to evaluate water right applications and claims. Typically, applicants and claimants seeking more than these amounts are asked for supplemental documentation explaining the need for more water.

Stock Watering

Cattle, Other Than Dairy – 12 gallons per day per cow

Dairy Cattle – 35 gallons per day per cow

Horses – 12 gallons per day per horse

Mules – 12 gallons per day per mule

Hogs – 4 gallons per day per hog

Goats – 2 gallons per day per goat

Sheep – 2 gallons per day per sheep

Chickens – 5-10 gallons per day per 100 chickens

Turkeys – 10-18 gallons per day per 100 turkeys

 

Domestic Use Diversion Rates

These figures show diversion rates typical for in-house domestic use. These figures do not include water for domestic stockwater or lawn and garden irrigation. Applicants seeking to divert water in excess of these rates for in-house domestic use should provide information explaining why the additional quantity is needed.

1 Household – 0.04 cfs

2 Households – 0.06 cfs

3 Households – 0.08 cfs

4 Households – 0.10 cfs

10 Households – 0.15 cfs

20 Households – 0.20 cfs

30 Households – 0.25 cfs

40 Households – 0.30 cfs

50 Households – 0.33 cfs

Other Common Uses

Hotels with private bath (two persons per room) – 60 gallons per room per day

Motels with bath – 40 gallons per day per bed space

Hospitals – 250-400 gallons per day per bed

Swimming pools – 10 gallons per day per swimmer

Picnic grounds with bathhouses, showers, & flush toilets – 20 gallons per day per person

Restaurants with bar/lounge, toilet facilities – 9-12 gallons per day per patron

Schools (day) with cafeteria, gym and showers – 25 gallons per day per student

Schools (boarding) – 75-100 gallons per day per student

Churches – 5 gallons per day per person

Service Stations – 10 gallons per day per vehicle

Stores – 400 gallons per day per restroom

Airports – 3-5 gallons per day per passenger

Irrigation – A total diversion of 0.02 cfs per acre irrigated, unless the applicant or claimant can demonstrate that more is required. For irrigated tracts of 5 acres or less, no additional justification is required for up to 0.03 cfs per acre. For irrigation of public spaces, such as parks and school grounds, IDWR will authorize a diversion rate of 0.02 cfs per acre times 24 divided by the number of hours irrigation actually occurs each day. For example, a park irrigated for 8 hours overnight could divert up to 0.06 cfs per acre.

ver: 3.5.2a | last updated:
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