Approximately how many gallons per day does potable water use for shipboard purposes consume?

• A. 1-5
• B. 12-35
• C. 50-75
• D. 100-150

Answer: (B)

Potable water aboard a ship is allocated for all domestic tasks—drinking, cooking, cleaning, and hygiene—so the daily figure reflects the amount needed to cover normal operations rather than extreme use. Approximately 12 to 35 gallons per person per day is a typical planning range for shipboard potable water. This range properly accounts for drinking and cooking plus routine hygiene needs like showers, hand washing, and light laundry, without assuming oversized consumption that would require much larger storage and production capacity. Smaller figures, such as 1–5 gallons, would be far too low to meet basic needs, while higher ranges like 50–75 or 100–150 gallons imply far more extensive water use than is typical for standard shipboard operations.