NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 242 ■ April 2016

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

National Center for Health Statistics

Daily Water Intake Among U.S. Men and Women, 2009–2012

Asher Rosinger, Ph.D., M.P.H., and Kirsten Herrick, Ph.D., M.Sc.

Key findings 

Data from the National 

Health and Nutrition 

Examination Survey, 

2009–2012

● Among U.S. adults, men

consumed an average of 3.46 

liters (117 ounces) of water per 

day, and women consumed 2.75 

liters (93 ounces) per day. 

● Men aged 60 and over

consumed less water (2.92 

liters) than men aged 20–39 

(3.61 liters) and 40–59 (3.63 

liters). Similarly, women aged 

60 and over consumed less 

water (2.51 liters) than women 

aged 20–39 (2.78 liters) and 

40–59 (2.9 liters).

● Non-Hispanic white men and

women consumed more water 

daily than non-Hispanic black 

and Hispanic men and women.

● Water intake increased with

physical activity level for both 

men and women.

● Among men, 30% of total

water consumed was plain 

water (with the remainder 

from other foods and liquids) 

compared with 34% for 

women.

Water is an essential nutrient for life (1). Institute of Medicine (IOM) 

recommendations from 2004 set adequate levels for total water intake from all 

foods and liquids at 3.7 liters (125 ounces) for men and 2.7 liters (91 ounces) 

for women (2). Consuming inadequate amounts of water increases the risk of 

dehydration, kidney stones, and poorer cognitive performance (3,4). Differences 

in water intake have been reported by age, race and Hispanic origin, and 

physical activity (5,6). This report provides updated estimates of mean daily 

total water intake for U.S. men and women aged 20 and over in 2009–2012.

Keyword: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 

Did total water intake per day vary by age group for men and 

women during 2009–2012?

Men consumed an average of 3.46 liters (L) or 117 ounces of water from all foods and 

liquids per day, while women consumed an average of 2.75 L or 93 ounces (Figure 1).

 

 

Figure 1. Mean total water intake per day among adults aged 20 and over, by sex and age group: 

United States, 2009–2012

 95% confidence interval.

1

Significantly different from those aged 60 and over, p < 0.01. 2

Significantly different from those aged 20–39, p < 0.05.

NOTE: Access data table for Figure 1 at: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db242_table.pdf#1.

SOURCE: CDC/NCHS, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2009–2012. 
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 242 ■ April 2016

■  2  ■

Total water intake was lowest among both men and women aged 60 and over compared with 

younger age groups. Men aged 20–39 (3.61 L) and 40–59 (3.63 L) consumed significantly more 

water per day than men aged 60 and over (2.92 L). Women aged 20–39 consumed 2.78 L of total 

water per day, while those aged 40–59 consumed significantly more (2.90 L), and those aged 60 

and over consumed significantly less (2.51 L). 

On average, men aged 20–39 and 40–59 consumed water at about the recommended adequate 

intake level of 3.7 L, while those aged 60 and over consumed 0.78 L less water than the 

recommended adequate intake. Women aged 20–39 consumed water at about the adequate intake 

level of 2.7 L, while women aged 40–59 consumed 0.2 L more than the adequate intake, and 

women aged 60 and over consumed 0.19 L less than the recommended adequate intake.

Were there differences in mean total water intake per day by race and 

Hispanic origin among men and women?

Non-Hispanic white men (3.60 L) and women (2.85 L) had the highest water intake, followed by 

Hispanic men (3.33 L) and women (2.58 L), and non-Hispanic black men (2.92 L) and women 

(2.41 L) (Figure 2). 

Compared with adequate intake levels, non-Hispanic black men and women consumed 0.78 L and 

0.29 L less than the IOM recommendations. Hispanic men and women had average water intakes 

0.37 L and 0.12 L below their respective adequate intake levels. Non-Hispanic white men did not 

differ significantly from the adequate intake, while non-Hispanic white women consumed 0.15 L 

more water than the adequate intake.

Figure 2. Mean total water intake per day among adults aged 20 and over, by sex and race and Hispanic origin: 

United States, 2009–2012

 95% confidence interval.

1

Significantly different from non-Hispanic black, p < 0.05. 2

Significantly different from Hispanic, p < 0.05.

NOTE: Access data table for Figure 2 at: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db242_table.pdf#2.

SOURCE: CDC/NCHS, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2009–2012. 
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 242 ■ April 2016

■  3  ■

Were there differences in mean total water intake per day by physical 

activity level among men and women? 

As physical activity level increased, mean total water intake per day increased for both men 

and women. Men with low physical activity had the lowest total water intake per day (3.15 L), 

followed by moderately active (3.36 L) and highly active (3.63 L) men (Figure 3). Similarly, 

women with low physical activity had the lowest total water intake per day (2.55 L), followed by 

moderately active (2.73 L) and highly active (2.98 L) women. 

Men with low and moderate physical activity levels consumed an average total water intake 

lower than the recommended adequate intake, while highly active men did not differ from the 

recommendation. Highly active women consumed more total water than the recommended intake 

for women, while women with low activity consumed slightly less than the recommendation, and 

moderately active women did not differ from the recommendation. 

Figure 3. Mean total water intake per day among adults aged 20 and over, by sex and physical activity level: 

United States, 2009–2012 
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 242 ■ April 2016

■  4  ■

Were there differences between men and women in how much plain water 

contributed to total water intake?

Men and women differed in how much plain water contributed to their total daily water intake. 

Plain water contributed 30% of total water intake men consumed per day (Figure 4). The 

remaining 70% of their water consumption came from other dietary foods and liquids. For 

women, plain water made up 34% of total water intake, with the remaining 66% coming from 

other dietary foods and liquids.

Figure 4. Plain water as percentage of total water intake among adults aged 20 and over, by sex: United States,

2009–2012

1

Significantly different from women, p < 0.01. 

NOTE: Access data table for Figure 4 at: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db242_table.pdf#4.

SOURCE: CDC/NCHS, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2009–2012.

 
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 242 ■ April 2016

■  5  ■

Summary

Overall in 2009–2012, the daily average total water intake from all foods and liquids among 

U.S. adults aged 20 and over was 3.46 L for men, with 30% coming from plain water, and 2.75 

L for women, with 34% coming from plain water. Total water intake was lower among men and 

women aged 60 and over than among younger adults. Non-Hispanic black men and women had 

the lowest average total water intake, similar to results from previous studies (5). For U.S. adults 

aged 20 and over, total water intake increased with physical activity level.

Men’s average total water intake per day was approximately 0.25 L less than the recommended 

adequate intake, whereas women’s intake was approximately the same as the adequate intake. On 

average, men and women aged 60 and over, non-Hispanic black men and women, Hispanic men 

and women, men and women with low physical activity, and men with moderate physical activity 

consumed less than the adequate daily intake. Previous studies have shown that adults aged 60 

and over are among the most vulnerable to dehydration (4,7). This report found that men aged 60 

and over consumed 2.92 L, roughly 0.8 L less than the adequate intake, and women aged 60 and 

over consumed 2.51 L, approximately 0.2 L less.

Definitions

Physical activity level: Summary of reported time spent in the previous week in moderate and 

vigorous activities from biking or walking, work, and leisure activities. Low physical activity is 

defined as less than 150 minutes of moderate or vigorous physical activity per week (8). Moderate 

physical activity is defined as between 150 minutes and 300 minutes of moderate or vigorous 

physical activity per week. High physical activity is defined as 300 minutes or more of moderate 

or vigorous physical activity per week.

Total water intake: Determined by the 24-hour dietary recall interview in which respondents list 

all foods and liquids consumed in the previous 24-hour period from midnight to midnight. Plain 

water intake and moisture content calculated from foods and beverages is then summed in grams, 

the equivalent of milliliters.

Data source and methods

Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES) for survey 

years 2009–2010 and 2011–2012 were used for these analyses. NHANES is a cross-sectional 

survey designed to monitor the health and nutritional status of the civilian noninstitutionalized 

U.S. population (9). It is conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) 

National Center for Health Statistics. The survey combines in-home interviews conducted in the 

participants’ homes and standardized physical examinations conducted in mobile examination 

centers (MEC). For this report, data were collected through an in-person 24-hour dietary recall 

interview in the MEC. Dietary recalls cover intake during the day (24 hours, midnight to 

midnight) prior to the standardized physical examination in the MEC (10).

The NHANES sample is selected through a complex, multistage probability design. In 

2009–2010 and 2011–2012, non-Hispanic black and Hispanic persons, among other groups, 

were oversampled to obtain reliable estimates for these population subgroups. Race and Hispanic 
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 242 ■ April 2016

■  6  ■

origin categories reflect individuals reporting only one race; those reporting “other” races and 

more than one race are included in the total but are not reported separately.

Data were analyzed using the day 1 dietary sample weights to account for the days of the week, 

differential probabilities of selection, nonresponse, and noncoverage. The standard errors of 

total water intake were estimated using Taylor series linearization, a method that incorporates 

the sample design. Ninety-five percent confidence intervals were used to assess whether 

each subpopulation’s water intake on a given day included the adequate intake. Pregnant and 

breastfeeding women were excluded from the analysis.

Differences between groups were evaluated using a univariate t statistic at the p < 0.05 

significance level. Test for trends by physical activity level was evaluated using linear regression, 

and the significance was set at p < 0.05. All differences reported are statistically significant 

unless otherwise indicated. Statistical analyses were conducted using Stata version 13.1 (College 

Station, T.X.).

About the authors

Asher Rosinger is with CDC’s Epidemic Intelligence Service, assigned to the National Center for 

Health Statistics (NCHS), Division of Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys. Kirsten Herrick 

is also with NCHS’ Division of Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys.

References

1. Kleiner SM. Water: An essential but overlooked nutrient. J Am Diet Assoc 99(2):200–6. 

1999.

2. Institute of Medicine. Dietary reference intakes for water, potassium, sodium, chloride, and 

sulfate. Washington, DC: National Academies Press. 2004. Available from: http://www.nap.edu/

read/10925/chapter/1.

3. Grandjean AC, Grandjean NR. Dehydration and cognitive performance. J Am Coll Nutr 

26(5 Suppl):549S–554S. 2007.

4. Popkin BM, D’Anci KE, Rosenberg IH. Water, hydration, and health. Nutr Rev 68(8):439–58. 

2010.

5. Kant AK, Graubard BI, Atchison EA. Intakes of plain water, moisture in foods and beverages, 

and total water in the adult US population—nutritional, meal pattern, and body weight correlates: 

National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys 1999–2006. Am J Clin Nutr 90(3):655–63. 

2009.

6. Sebastian RS, Enns CW, Goldman JD. Drinking water intake in the U.S.: What we eat in 

America, NHANES 2005–2008. Food Surveys Research Group Dietary Data Brief no 7. U.S. 

Department of Agriculture. 2011.

7. Stookey JD. High prevalence of plasma hypertonicity among community-dwelling older 

adults: Results from NHANES III. J Am Diet Assoc 105(8):1231–9. 2005.

8. HHS. Physical activity guidelines for Americans. 2008. Available from: http://www.health.

gov/paguidelines/pdf/paguide.pdf.
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 242 ■ April 2016

■  7  ■

9. National Center for Health Statistics. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. 

Questionnaires, datasets, and related documentation. Available from: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/

nhanes/nhanes_questionnaires.htm. 

10. National Center for Health Statistics. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey: 

Dietary interview component. Available from: 

http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nhanes/nhanes_09_10/dietaryrecall_f.pdf.
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 242 ■ April 2016

FIRST CLASS MAIL 

POSTAGE & FEES PAID 

CDC/NCHS 

PERMIT NO. G-284

Suggested citation

Rosinger A, Herrick K. Daily water intake 

among U.S. men and women, 2009–2012. 

NCHS data brief, no 242. Hyattsville, MD: 

National Center for Health Statistics. 2016.

Copyright information

All material appearing in this report is in 

the public domain and may be reproduced 

or copied without permission; citation as to 

source, however, is appreciated.

National Center for Health 

Statistics

Charles J. Rothwell, M.S., M.B.A., Director

Nathaniel Schenker, Ph.D., Deputy Director

Jennifer H. Madans, Ph.D., Associate 

Director for Science

Division of Health and Nutrition 

Examination Surveys

Kathryn S. Porter, M.D., M.S., Director

Ryne Paulose-Ram, Ph.D., Associate 

Director for Science

For e-mail updates on NCHS publication 

releases, subscribe online at: 

http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/govdelivery.htm.

For questions or general information

about NCHS:

Tel: 1–800–CDC–INFO (1–800–232–4636)

TTY: 1–888–232–6348

Internet: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs

Online request form: http://www.cdc.gov/info/

ISSN 1941–4927 Print ed.

ISSN 1941–4935 Online ed.

DHHS Publication No. 2016–1209

CS263806

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF

HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

National Center for Health Statistics

3311 Toledo Road, Room 5419

Hyattsville, MD 20782–2064

OFFICIAL BUSINESS 

PENALTY FOR PRIVATE USE, $300

For more NCHS Data Briefs, visit:

http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs.htm.