Water is one of our most precious natural resources. About 71% of the planet is covered by water, and your own body is 60% water! It may seem like water is in endless supply, but the truth is, the Earth’s freshwater sources are being depleted. According to the World Wildlife Fund, two-thirds of the world’s population may face water shortages by 2025. One way you can help is to become aware of your own water consumption and take steps to conserve water at home.
Water Usage at Home
Most of us don’t realize how much water we consume or all the ways we use (and waste) it, but understanding those facts is key to reducing our usage. Here are some statistics that may surprise you:
Each American uses an average of 88 gallons of water each day at home.
The average family spends more than $1,000 per year on water.
Leaving the water on while washing dishes for five minutes uses the same amount of energy needed to power a 60-watt light bulb for 18 hours.
Running your sprinklers for 20 minutes a day for a week uses enough water for 800 showers.
Where Does the Water in Your Home Go?
Why Should You Care About Water Usage?
Less than 1% of the world’s water can be used by people. The rest is saltwater, or frozen into glaciers, or just unreachable. Drought is a growing issue: More than 1 billion people worldwide have no access to clean water. In the U.S., nearly 50% of the country is experiencing “severe, extreme, or exceptional” drought conditions, according to Drought.gov, especially in the West and Southwest regions.
Did you know … Agriculture is the biggest consumer of water in the world.
As the population grows and climate change expands, so does the demand on our aging water infrastructure. Pipes, reservoirs, dams, water storage facilities, filters, floodgates, and treatment plants are all part of our water delivery system and are all experiencing strain. Most of our water delivery and treatment system was built just after World War II. Luckily, recent legislation has been approved to fund improvements to water and sewer systems throughout the country.
Treatment and delivery of water so that we can use it in our homes takes a lot of energy and money. New waste treatment facilities need a lot of land and can cost millions of dollars to build and operate. New technology is making water treatment and delivery safer, more efficient, and less expensive all the time, but it’s going to be a while before the whole country sees improvements.
How You Can Help
Are you ready to do your part to save water at home? Here are a few steps you can take.
Use this calculator to estimate how much water, energy, and money you can save by installing WaterSense products.
