In order to investigate the factors affecting domestic water use in rural areas of developing countries, an analysis was performed of water consumption estimates from 1029 different households in Nicaragua collected between May 1986 and December 1988. Eight of the 22 variables hypothesized to be related to per capita domestic water consumption, were included in the final multiple regression model. These were; household size, site of clothes washing, the type of water source, mother's and father's levels of schooling, distance to the water source, wealth, and ownership of cattle. According to this model, a decrease in the distance to the water source from 1000 to 10 m is associated with an increase in per capita water consumption of 20%. Similarly, families where the mother has 6 years of schooling use 17% more water than families where the mother has had no formal education. The same difference in the father's schooling is associated with 12% greater per capita water consumption. A better understanding of the factors affecting domestic water use is needed to improve the design of interventions aimed at reducing the transmission of water-washed disease in developing countries.