Water is vital to our human existence and to everything around us. Check out these fun facts to see how much water is used in things we just don’t think about. Remember, the total water footprint may include growth, production of the seed, and equipment to plant, harvest, process and manufacture the end product.
- All vehicles need tires and airplanes too. Did you know it takes 2,072 gallons of water to produce four new tires? So, without water we’d all take “stay”cations, rather than vacations, or get healthier by walking and running.
- Talking about walking and running, what about shoes? It takes 2,110 gallons of water to make one pair of leather shoes.
- Are you a drinker? If there were no water, there would be no coffee, tea, juice, soda or wine. Did you know it takes 37 gallons of water to produce a cup of coffee, 20 gallons of water to produce one glass of beer, and 32 gallons of water for a glass of wine?
- In the warm months, the fabric of choice is cotton or linen. These fabrics are cool and le
t the breeze flow through. It takes 101 gallons of water to make one pound of wool or cotton. And don’t forget about blue jeans. It takes 900 gallons of water to make one pair.
- For each sheet of paper you copy, it took 2.6 gallons of water to produce.
- The wonderful dinner you had of 8 ounces of chicken, 6 ounces of potatoes and 8 ounces of asparagus, used 332 gallons of water in growth, production and processing before you could enjoy it.
- Did you know it takes 11 gallons of water to produce one slice of bread, three gallons for one tomato and 616 gallons for four ounces of hamburger meat? That’s 641 gallons of water for a homemade hamburger, not including pickles or mayonnaise/mustard.
- Lastly, did you know that it takes 39,090 gallons of water to make a new car, including tires. Wow!
It is just amazing how much water is used in things we wear or consume on a regular basis. Things that wouldn’t be available without a reliable source of drinking water.
Thanks for “being” in the know and using water wisely. It is vital to society.