The 50L Home Pilot: A Blueprint for Scaling Household Water Efficiency
This session explores how household water efficiency can serve as a practical response to the infrastructure and affordability pressures facing Great Lakes cities, from combined sewer overflows and basement flooding to the rising cost of system maintenance passed on through utility bills.
The 50L Home Coalition is a joint initiative of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) and the World Economic Forum, uniting global private sector leaders including Kohler, Electrolux, IKEA, and Procter & Gamble, alongside municipal governments. Our mission is to demonstrate that households can thrive on under 50 liters of water per person per day, transforming how cities, industries, and consumers approach water resilience.
Speakers from Kohler and the 50L Home Coalition will present results from a two-year pilot in Los Angeles, where 31 homes were quietly retrofitted with high-efficiency fixtures and appliances. Participants were not specifically asked to conserve nor could they see water savings data from their home. After two years in the study, households used 21 gallons (79 liters) indoors per person per day on average, which is 56% less than the official LA average of 48 gallons (182 liters). Participants reported their routines had become easier and more enjoyable, with less time spent on mundane chores.
Join us during Chicago Water Week to hear from Kohler and the 50L Home Coalition on what these findings mean for the Midwest and why the Great Lakes region is uniquely positioned to lead on demand-side water innovation.
This event is affiliated with Chicago Water Week, presented by Current.