 Most of us have studied the water cycle in school. It is a great educational model about water that teaches us that there is only so much water on our planet, and yet we are using more than ever before. It is impossible to sustain life without water, so therefore we must conserve enough to make sure that there will be enough for future use and generations.
Here are a few facts about this prized resource to keep in mind while conserving:
• Of all the earth's water, 97% is salt water found in oceans and seas.
• Less than 2% of the Earth’s water supply is fresh water.
• Only 1% of the earth's water is available for drinking water. One percent is frozen.
• Every day in the United States, we drink about 110 million gallons of water.
• The average American uses 140-170 gallons of water per day.
• If every household in America had a faucet that dripped once each second, 928 million gallons of water a day would leak away.
• The average 5-minute shower takes 15-25 gallons of water; around 40 gallons are used in 10 minutes.
• If you water your grass and trees more heavily, but less often, this saves water and builds stronger roots.
• Water your lawn only when it needs it. If you step on the grass and it springs back up when you move, it doesn’t need water. If it stays flat, it does need water.
• An automatic dishwasher uses 9 to 12 gallons of water, while hand washing dishes can use up to 20 gallons.
• Public water suppliers process 38 billion gallons of water per day for domestic and public use.
• Approximately 1 million miles of pipelines and aqueducts carry water in the U.S. & Canada. That's enough pipes to circle the earth 40 times.
• One inch of rainfall drops 7,000 gallons or nearly 30 tons of water on a 60' by 180' piece of land.
• Watering slowly and deeply will allow the water to be absorbed more efficiently. You should water four to six inches deep, which means about one inch of water on the surface. If using a sprinkler system, place a rain gauge or shallow cans on either side of the sprinkler and measure the water that it collects. This approach will help you to determine the amount of water you are using.
• Check your equipment. Fix leaky hoses or faucets. Install a shut off device on hoses to prevent water loss from unattended hoses. Hoses without a nozzle can spout 10 gallons or more per minute. Do not leave faucets or hoses on when they are not in use.
Hopefully these facts will teach why we have to be more aware of our water use. These humbling facts were compiled from the EPA http://www.epa.gov and other resources, who work daily to lessen human impact on water and other resources. Being informed is the first step to becoming eco-friendly.
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