Tag: Daily water recommendations

According to Cleveland Clinic, while the amount of water causing overhydration varies, it is generally recommended to avoid drinking more than 32 ounces (about 1 liter) of water per hour to prevent water intoxication. Drinking excessive amounts of water can disrupt the body's electrolyte balance, leading to a potentially fatal condition called hyponatremia. A healthy person's kidneys can excrete a significant amount of water over a day, but their hourly capacity is limited, making rapid, large-volume intake dangerous.

A healthy adult's kidneys can process only about 0.8 to 1.0 liter of water per hour. Since this capacity can be easily overwhelmed, drinking 4 gallons of water a day is not safe and can lead to serious health complications like water intoxication.

According to the U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, women need about 2.7 liters and men about 3.7 liters of total fluid per day. Given these recommendations, it is very unlikely that 1.3 l of water a day is enough for most adults, and understanding your personal needs is key to preventing dehydration.