Water scarcity is a major issue around the world. Day zero, the day in which taps run dry, has already happened in certain parts of the world in recent years, and is likely to happen in more cities over the next ten years. Many major American cities, including Los Angeles and New York City, are on this potential ‘Day Zero’ list. 

While there is unlikely to be an influx of water over the next few decades, there are several ways cities can reduce the use of freshwater, avoiding these devastating water shortages. The 50L Home Coalition, a group headed by Procter & Gamble, aims to educate the public on ways to reduce their daily average water usage from 500 liters to 50 liters. 

The coalition was formed in 2020, and is led by Frantz Beznik, research and development director and global head of sustainable innovation at Procter & Gamble. With projections that two-thirds of the world’s population could live in water-stressed by 2025, something has to be done to address the water scarcity issue. Beznik wanted to find ways that the average home of the future could use just 50 liters of water per person daily.

The 50L Home concept created by the coalition recommends low-water-use and water-recycling appliances and systems, water-purifying products, and intelligent systems for reuse, enrichment and discharge to drastically reduce water use in the home. The decentralization of water allows the home to recycle and use water and energy more efficiently. City infrastructure, including residential wastewater reuse, plumbing codes, and decentralized electricity grids, will also have to be addressed to help reduce water and energy waste.  

Pilot programs for the 50L Home will begin in a few water-stressed cities in the next three years. One of the cities that is likely to host a pilot program is Los Angeles. The builders and manufacturers involved with the program are coming up with solutions for water scarcity issues, such as reusing rinse water from showers and washing machines for non-potable needs such as flushing toilets. The pilot program will allow the 50L Home Coalition to provide real data on the impact of less water use on the water ecosystem. If all proves successful, the program will expand to larger areas of the US and other parts of the world.  

The coalition, which includes such partners as Kohler, Electrolux, Arcadis, and Suez, was convened by the 2030 Water Resources Group, World Business Council for Sustainable Development, and the World Economic Forum. With a goal of making more efficient and effective household water use obtainable for major cities around the world facing the prospect of Day Zero, the 50L Home Coalition is taking on a task that simply cannot be ignored any longer.