Empowering Water Advocates
Championing Efficient Water Use in the Southwest
Join us in our mission to promote sustainable water practices through education, advocacy, and innovative recycling technologies.
Additional Resources
Key Water Statistics
Water use and recycling in the Southwest United States are critical areas of focus for sustainable living. Here are some key statistics:
Across the globe, 2 billion people daily drink contaminated water that could be harmful to their health
Of all freshwater withdrawals globally are for agricultural production
Trillion liters of wastewater is generated by mankind globally every year
Of the world's treated wastewater is only reused
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Just the Facts
WATER EDUCATION
1 acre foot of water is:
325,851 gallons
43,560 cubic feet
7,785 barrels (bbls)
1,233 cubic meters
Summary
While 71% of the earth’s surface is covered in water, and this means there are 326 million cubic miles of water on the planet, most of it is not suitable for use by humanity. The 97% of the earth’s water which is found in the oceans, is too salty (saline) for use by humans for growing crops, most industrial purposes, and certainly it is not suitable for drinking.
Over 59% of the available water used in the United States is by industry and 33% is used by agriculture, leaving only 8% for domestic/household everyday use.
With Earth’s ever-expanding population, humanity now needs to treat, recycle, and reuse most of the water it uses. In the United States, the obvious segment to start with is industry which uses more than 18.2 billion gallons per day by direct water withdrawals. Scientific research has discovered cost-effective methods for treating/cleaning industrial and agricultural water so that it can safely by reused by industry, people, animals and agriculture.
Fresh Water Facts – What’s Available
- Only 3% of the earth’s water is fresh
- 2.5% of the earth’s fresh water is unavailable: locked up in glaciers, polar ice caps, atmosphere, and soil; highly polluted; or lies too far under the earth’s surface to be extracted at an affordable cost.
- Only .5% of the earth’s fresh water is actually available to humanity at this time
Compare the amount of water
- If the world’s water supply were only 100 liters (26 gallons), our usable water supply of fresh water would be only about 0.003 liter (one-half teaspoon).
- In actuality, that amounts to an average of 8.4 million liters (2.2 million gallons) for each person on earth.
- This supply is continually collected, purified, and distributed in the natural hydrologic (water) cycle.
- Snow that is 4 inches (10cm) deep contains about the same amount of water as 1/3 inch (1 cm) of rain.
Water Sources & Definitions
Water withdrawal is the taking water from groundwater or surface-water source and transporting it to a place of use.
Water Use in the United States
- In the U.S. about three-fourths of the fresh water withdrawn each year comes from rivers, lakes and reservoirs; one-fourth comes from groundwater aquifers.
- 80% of water withdrawn in the U.S. is used for cooling electric power plants and for irrigation.
- Americans use about 1/3 more water in the summer than they do the rest of the year because they’re watering their lawns.
- There are about 10 million acres of lawn in the U.S., which requires 270 billion gallons of water every week. That’s enough to give every person in the world a shower for four days in a row.
- Most lawns only need an inch of water each week.
According to the EPA and National Resources Defense Council, half of our rivers and streams and more than one-third of our lakes are polluted and unfit for swimming, fishing, and drinking.
- “Forever Chamicals” can be found in at least half the tap water in the U.S.
- A gallon of paint or a quart of motor oil can seep into the earth and pollute 250,000 gallons of drinking water.
- A spilled gallon of gasoline can pollute 750,000 gallons of water.
- A leak that fills up a coffee cup in 10 minutes will waste over 3,000 gallons of water in a year. That’s 65 glasses of water every day for a year.
- A leaky toilet can waste over 22,000 gallons of water in one year; enough to take three baths every day.
See our page on Pollution & Contaminants
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Sources: U.S. Bureau of Reclamation 2024, U.S Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Geological Survey, National Resources Defense Fund, CNN
Your Food! Just how much water does it take to produce:
Food Portion Gallons of Water
Orange Juice | 1 cup | 49 |
Orange | 1 medium | 14 |
Cantaloupe | 1 melon | 160 |
Broccoli | 2 cups | 11 |
Catsup | 1 ounce | 3 |
Corn | 1 ear | 80 |
Lettuce | 1 cup | 3 |
Tomato | 1 small | 8 |
Tomato Sauce | 4 ounces | 13 |
Butter | 1 pat | 46 |
Cheese | 1 ounce | 56 |
Milk | 1 cup | 48 |
Yogurt | 1 cup | 88 |
Beef Steak | 8 ounces | 1,232 |
Chicken | 8 ounces | 330 |
Egg | 1 each | 50 |
Hamburger | 4 ounces | 616 |
Tofu | 2 cups | 61 |
Almonds | 1 ounce | 80 |
Sugar | 1 Tablespoon | 7 |
White Rice | 2 cups | 25 |
Brown Rice | 2 cups | 16 |
Wheat Bread | 1 slice | 7 |
White Bread | 1 slice | 11 |
Pasta | 2 ounces | 36 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Reclamation
Where Water is Found
Oceans | 97.2% |
Ice Caps/Glaciers | 2.0% |
Groundwater* | 0.62% |
Freshwater Lakes | 0.009% |
Inland seas/salt lakes | 0.008% |
Atmosphere | 0.001% |
Rivers | 0.0001% |
TOTAL | 99.8381% |
Water Use in the U.S.
- 8% domestic use
- 33% agriculture
- 59% industry
- Over 600 gallons per day per person in the U.S. is being diverted for farm irrigation and livestock use from natural aquatic sources.
- More than half the people in the U.S. get their water from groundwater.
Garden Water Use
- Americans use about 1/3 more water in the summer than they do the rest of the year because they’re watering their lawns.
- There are about 10 million acres of lawn in the U.S., which requires 270 billion gallons of water every week. That’s enough to give every person in the world a shower for four days in a row.
- Most lawns only need an inch of water each week.
Measures of Water Use
- Water withdrawal – taking water from groundwater or surface-water source and transporting it to a place of use.
- Water consumption – water that has been withdrawn and is not available for reuse in the area from which it is withdrawn.
- In the U.S. about three-fourths of the fresh water withdrawn each year comes from rivers, lakes and reservoirs; one-fourth comes from groundwater aquifers.
- 80% of water withdrawn in the U.S. is used for cooling electric power plants and for irrigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Below are some common questions about water advocacy and policies, along with their answers:
What is water advocacy?
Water advocacy involves promoting policies and practices that ensure sustainable and equitable water use.
How can I get involved in water advocacy?
You can join organizations like Southwest Water Advocates, participate in local meetings, and support water conservation initiatives.
What are the benefits of water recycling?
Water recycling helps conserve water resources, reduces wastewater, and provides a sustainable supply of water for various uses.
What policies support water conservation?
Policies such as water use restrictions, incentives for water-efficient appliances, and funding for water recycling projects support conservation efforts.
How does water use impact the environment?
Excessive water use can deplete natural resources, harm ecosystems, and contribute to water scarcity issues.
What is the role of technology in water conservation?
Technology plays a crucial role in monitoring water use, improving efficiency, and developing new methods for water recycling and purification.
Join the Movement for Water Advocacy
Become a part of the Southwest Water Advocates Network and help us champion sustainable water policies and technologies. Subscribe to our updates to stay informed about the latest in water conservation, advocacy efforts, and innovative recycling technologies. Together, we can make a difference.