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
|