The Household Water Usage in Northern Ireland 2025/26 report published
Topics:
Date published:
The Household Water Usage in Northern Ireland 2025/26, findings from the Continuous Household Survey (CHS), has been published today.
The publication is available on the Department for Infrastructure website.
Key Points:
Individual Usage:
- In 2025/26, almost half of respondents (48%) indicated that they shower seven times a week with around nine in ten (89%) showering three or more times a week.
- When asked how long on average is each shower, 43% indicated a duration of five minutes or less with a similar proportion (45%) responding six to ten minutes. Only 1% of respondents reported showering for longer than 20 minutes on average.
- Nearly two-thirds (65%) of respondents never use, or don’t own a bath and only 8% use a bath more than once a week.
Household Usage:
- The majority of households (84%) indicated that they have a hosepipe or bucket at home for outside use.
- When asked how often they used a washing machine, 85% of households indicated that they used a washing machine more than once a week, with a quarter (25%) indicating that they use it every day.
- The most common response to being asked about dishwasher usage was not owning a dishwasher at 43%. Almost one-fifth (18%) indicated that they use a dishwasher daily.
- Just under three-quarters of households (72%) indicated that they had a dual flush toilet in their home.
Notes to editors:
- Official Statistics - The statistical report has been produced in accordance with the Code of Practice for Statistics, complying with the pillars of Trustworthiness, Quality and Value. You can find further information about the Code of Practice on UK Statistics Authority website.
- This report, produced by the Analysis, Statistics and Research Branch (ASRB) of the Department for Infrastructure (DfI), presents findings from the 2025/26 Continuous Household Survey (CHS) on household water usage in Northern Ireland. Questions on household water usage within Northern Ireland were commissioned by DfI on behalf of NI Water. The CHS is considered to be a representative sample of the population at household level.
- In 2025/26, a total of 3,459 households took part in the survey; within those 3,459 households, a total of 4,004 individuals took part in the survey. To reduce survey length, the questionnaire consisted of a split sample. This means that depending on the serial number of the questionnaire (even or odd) the respondents would be exposed to a different set of questions for part of the questionnaire. Household water questions were included in even versions of the questionnaire only.
- The report provides annual statistics on the use of water by individuals and households including use of showers, dishwashers, washing machines and hosepipes.
- The information presented in this publication may be used by the Department to inform and understand the story behind current trends and to assist in any future policy discussion and development.
- For more information relating to this publication, including additional analysis, breakdowns of data, or alternative formats please contact:
Analysis, Statistics and Research Branch, First Floor, James House, Cromac Avenue, Belfast, BT7 2JB
Telephone: (028) 9034 6270 E-mail: asrb@nisra.gov.uk
Website: www.infrastructure-ni.gov.uk/topics/dfi-statistics-and-research
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