Fermi question · Everyday
According to EPA WaterSense statistics updated in 2026, about how many gallons of water can the average household waste from leaks in a year?
Make a fast, defensible estimate before you reveal the reference answer. Think in factors, not exact recall.
What is your estimate?
Your result will appear here after you submit a guess.
Reference answer
Reveal the reference answer
≈ 9.4 thousand gallons per year
Fermi estimates are judged by scale, so a reasonable approximation can still earn a strong score.
One way to estimate it
Translate a modest continuous household leak into a yearly total.
- Average daily leak≈ 26 gallons/day
- Days per year≈ 365
- Estimate26 × 365 ≈ 9,500 gallons/year
Keep practicing
Try another question, or return to the daily challenge to build your personal sense of scale.