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ACCORDING TO THE EPA - HOW DO WE USE WATER?
Water is a resource that has many uses, including recreational, transportation, hydroelectric power,
agricultural, domestic, industrial, and commercial uses. Water also supports all forms of life and affects our
health, lifestyle, and economic well being. As individuals, we use water for sanitation, drinking, and many
other human needs, and we pay for the public water utilities that provide water. Examples of the amount of
water used by an individual during everyday activities are shown below (compare the gallons to a gallon of
milk):
•
To flush a toilet
5 to 7 gallons
•
To run a dishwasher
15 to 25 gallons
•
To wash dishes by hand
20 gallons
•
To water a small lawn
35 gallons
•
To take a shower
25 to 50 gallons
•
To take a bath
50 gallons
•
To wash a small load of clothes in a washing machine
35 gallons
•
To brush teeth (running water continuously)
2 to 5 gallons
The average American uses 140 to 160 gallons of water per day. Although more than three quarters of the
earth's surface is made up of water, only 2.8 percent of the Earth's water is available for human consumption.
The other 97.2 percent is in the oceans; however, this water is too salty to use for most purposes, and the salt
is very costly to remove. Most of the Earth's fresh water is frozen in polar ice caps, icebergs, and glaciers.
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