Water Statistics
A lot of water is wasted because so many people give little thought to where water comes from and where it goes after they use it, yet less than 1% of the Earth’s water is available for human consumption. There is no “new” water on Earth.
The water we use comes from surface water (reservoirs, lakes,etc.) or ground water (aquifers). In drier areas, water is pumped from deep aquifers, underground reservoirs formed over many centuries by water trickling down until it meets solid rock. This water is now pumped out far faster than it can be replenished, causing the ground to contract and sink. This is called subsidence. Along with water shortage problems, many cities worldwide are being faced with subsidence problems.
- Without water there could be no LIFE. We live on the “water planet”; viewed from space the Earth is a blue and white sphere- the blue is water and the white is water vapor.
- The human body is about 75% water.
- Tomatoes are 90% water, potatoes 80% and chickens 75%.
- It takes about 1,400 gallons (5320 liters) of water to process a meal of a 1/4 lb. hamburger, french fries and a soft drink.
- Nearly one half of the world’s population lacks access to clean water for sanitation, drinking, and other human needs.
- Using hot water from the tap for baby formula or any kind of cooking is not healthy. Lead from the household plumbing can get into hot water.
- More than 200 million pounds (90 kgs) of contaminants are dumped into our water resources every year.
- The Safe Drinking Water Act- a law passed by Congress in 1974- and amended in 1986- regulates the quality of public drinking water.
- Every day we drink about 110 million (417 million liters) gallons of water.
- Showering and bathing is one of the largest users ( 27% ) of water domestically.
—- Water Loss with a Faucet Leak —-
30 drops/minute = 84 gallons/month = 1,008 gallons/year
60 drops/minute = 168 gallons/month = 2,016 gallons/year
90 drops/minute = 253 gallons/month = 3,036 gallons/year
120 drops/minute = 337 gallons/month = 4,044 gallons/year
—- Lawn Watering —-
1 hour lawn watering = 220 gallons
- Less than 2% of the Earth’s water supply is fresh water.
- The average person uses approximately 140-160 gallons (530-600 liters)of water per day.
- One newspaper a day means the use of 66,000 gallons (250,800 liters) of water a year.
- You can save up to 5 gallons (19 liters) everyday by turning off the faucet while brushing your teeth.
- Canada has more water per capita than any other nation on earth. Ten times as much as the U.S.
- A leaky faucet can waste 100 gallons (380 liters) a day.
- It can take up to 45 minutes for a water supplier to produce one glass of drinking water.