Australians use more water than we think

Australians are unknowingly consuming thousands of litres of drinking water every day — not just through their taps, but through the products they buy, the food they eat and using AI on their phones.

This National Water Week (20–26 October 2025), the Australian Water Association (AWA) is calling on individuals, schools and businesses to recognise the unseen water embedded in every aspect of daily life and take steps to reduce their collective water footprint.

When accounting for the full production process, a steak can require up to 4000 L of water, while a single cup of coffee can cost around 140 L.

ChatGPT is estimated to use the equivalent of a 500 mL water bottle for between five and 20 questions asked, depending on the complexity of the question. While a survey conducted by the AWA shows that 84% of Australians actively think about their water consumption every day, most remain unaware of the ‘invisible’ water used to grow, manufacture, use and transport the products we rely on.

AWA CEO Corinne Cheeseman said Australia was hitting a critical decade for protecting water for future generations.

“Climate extremes are intensifying, our population is growing, and much of our water infrastructure is aging,” Cheeseman said. “Understanding our invisible water use is the first step toward valuing and protecting this critical resource. If we act now by improving our water knowledge, changing behaviours and investing in sustainable solutions, we can secure a resilient water future.”

The survey showed many Australians implement water-saving measures in their daily lives, including minimising household use (76%), using efficient fittings and appliances (69%), and monitoring their shower time (62%). However, AWA said these changes don’t account for the vast quantities of water used throughout agriculture, industry, IT and supply chains, masking a growing threat to the nation’s long-term water security.

“Water underpins everything we do, even when we can’t see it. From the food we eat and the clothes we wear to the homes we live in and the energy we use, everything we do has a water footprint,” Cheeseman said. “The impacts are not only environmental but also economic. Because every part of life is touched by water, water scarcity will inevitably affect productivity, food prices and infrastructure resilience if we don’t start making sustainable changes now.”

Image credit: iStock.com/urbazon