Siemens, a producer of some of the world’s most innovative water saving technologies, knows a thing or two about water consumption.
When we think of our water footprint, most of us just consider direct usage: for example, the water we drink or use to take a shower. We rarely recognize indirect usage (the water used to produce, grow or manufacture the items we use).
Did you know that up to 70 percent of the world’s fresh water is used for agriculture? That means that everything we eat impacts the water supply. Interestingly, nearly every manufacturing process also uses water. So things like computers, cars, and pharmaceuticals all have an impact as well.
Here are some surprising facts you probably don’t know about water usage. Once you see these numbers, you may be inspired to make a few changes in your daily routine.
- It takes about 140 liters of water to grow the coffee beans and process them to make one cup of coffee.
- More than 4921 liters is required to produce a 12 oz. steak.
- About 25 741 liters of water is required to grow a day’s food for a family of four.
- It takes 196 liters of water to produce one glass of pasteurized milk. The ratio is 1,000:1 so to produce 1 liter of milk in the fridge takes 1,000 liters out in the fields.
- It takes more than 37 liters of water to produce one slice of wheat bread. If you eat the bread with a slice of cheese then you add another 49 liters.
- Using a low-flow tap can save you 13 liters per minute.
- Using a low-flow toilet can save nearly 18 liters per flush.
- Brushing your teeth properly, but with the tap running requires around 7 liters of water. Shut off the water while you brush.
- A five-minute shower can use 95 liters of water. A low-flow showerhead can help reduce water usage by about 40 percent.
- Fix your leaky tap; left alone it can waste up to 370 liters of water a day.
- An automatic dishwasher uses approximately 25 liters of water while hand washing dishes can use up to 50 liters a day.
So, 8 flushes in a low-flow toilet will save as much water as it takes to grow and process one cup of coffee. It might sound insignificant, but every drop counts. Simply being aware of how much water it takes to get food on your table helps elevate your understanding and appreciation of this resource. Sure, we all have to eat but, as you can see, simple measures can help counter the impact.
What will you do to help reduce your water consumption?
This interesting information was brought to the forest, courtesy of MotherNatureNetwork ~ @MotherNatureNet
