WHAT IS WATER USED FOR?

Water is used in a number of ways that you would never expect. From automobile tires to hamburgers, water is essential in the production of many everyday items. Here are just a few examples, as well as some other water-related trivia.

How much water does it take to process a quarter pound of hamburger?
- Approximately one gallon

How much water does it take to produce one ton of steel?
- 62,600 gallons

How much water is used to produce a single day’s supply of U.S. newsprint?
- 300 million gallons

What is the total amount of water used to manufacture a new car, including new tires?
- 39,090 gallons per car

How much water must a dairy cow drink to produce one gallon of milk?
- Four gallons

How much water is used during the growing/production of a chicken?
- 400 gallons

How much water is used during the growing/production of almonds?
- 12 gallons

How much water is used during the growing/production of french fries?
- 6 gallons

How much water is used during the growing/production of a single orange?
- 13.8 gallons

How much water is used during the growing/production of a watermelon?
- 100 gallons

How much water is used during the growing/production of a loaf of bread?
- 150 gallons

How much water is used during the growing/production of a tomato?
- 3 gallons

How much water us used during the production of an egg?
- 120 gallons

Water is the only substance found on earth naturally in three forms.
- (Solid, liquid and gas)

Does water regulate the earth’s temperature?
- Yes (it is a natural insulator)

At what temperature does water freeze?
- 32 degrees F, 0 degrees C

At what temperature does water vaporize?
- 212 degrees F, 100 degrees C

How long can a person live without food?
- More than a month

How long can a person live without water?
- Approximately one week, depending upon conditions

How much of the human body is water?
- 66%

How much of the earth’s surface is water?
- 80%

How much water must a person consume per day to maintain health?
- 2.5 quarts from all sources (i.e. water, food)

Of all the earth’s water, how much is ocean or seas?
- 97%

How much of the world’s water is frozen and therefore unusable?
- 2%

How much of the earth’s water is suitable for drinking water?
- 1%

Is it possible for me to drink water that was part of the dinosaur era?
- Yes - water is constantly recycled

What is the most common substance found on earth?
- Water

How much water does the average residence use during a year?
- Over 100,000 gallons (indoors and outside)

How much water does an individual use daily?
- Over 100 gallons (all uses)

How many community public water systems are there in the United States?
- 54,000

How much water do these utilities process daily?
- 38 billion gallons

What does it cost to operate the water systems throughout the country annually?
- Over $3.5 billion

How many miles of pipeline and aqueducts are in the United States and Canada?
- Approximately one million miles, or enough to circle the earth 40 times

What were the first water pipes made from in the US?
- Fire charred bored logs

Where was the first municipal water filtration works opened and when?
- Paisley, Scotland in 1832

Of the nation’s community water supplies, what percentage are investor-owned?
- 15 %

How many households use private wells for their water supply?
- More than 13 million

How much water is used to flush a toilet?
- 2-7 gallons

How much water is used in the average five-minute shower?
- 15-25 gallons

How much water is used on the average for an automatic dishwasher?
- 9-12 gallons

On the average, how much is used to hand wash dishes?
- 9-20 gallons

How much does one gallon of water weigh?
- 8.34 pounds

What is the weight of water in one cubic foot?
- 62.4 pounds

How much water drops with an inch of rain on one acre of ground?
- 27,154 gallons, which weighs 113 tons

Courtesy of the United States Environmental Protection Agency
http://www.epa.gov/safewater/glossary.htm