Fun Water Facts
Shea McLaughlin 
1. In the year 1908 chlorine was first used in municipal systems in the U.S. to treat water.
“Drinking Water: A History,” by James Salzman; EPA; Humboldt State University
2. Over 70,000 different water contaminants have been identified.
3. During a dry year, farmers in California can use up to 90% of the state's water.
4. About 6,800 gallons of water is required to grow a day’s food for a family of four.
5. Agriculture uses about 80% of all US freshwater.
6. 3% of the earth's water is fresh.
7. Each day the sun evaporates a trillion tons of water.
8. Without water, the earth would look like the moon.
9. Hot water can sometimes freeze faster than cold water.
10. Most lawns only need an inch of water each week.
12. Roughly 70 percent of an adult’s body is made up of water.
13. Proper hydration contributes to increased athletic performance. Water composes 75% of our muscle tissue! Dehydration can lead to weakness, fatigue, dizziness, and electrolyte imbalance.
14. Water helps your body maintain normal bowel function.
15. A 2% reduction of water levels in the body can lead to a 20% decrease in mental and physical performance.
16. Water keeps the cartilage around our joints hydrated and supple, ensuring that our joints stay lubricated.
17. Water removes waste from the human body.
18. Children in the first 6 months of life consume seven times as much water per pound as the average American adult.
19. Running the tap while brushing your teeth can waste 4 gallons of water.
20. About 95 percent of the water entering our homes goes down the drain.
21. A gallon of gasoline takes nearly 13 gallons of water to produce. Combine your errands, car pool to work, or take public transportation to reduce both your energy and water use.
22. Turning off the tap water while you brush your teeth can save 8 gallons of water a day – that equals about 200 gallons of water saved per month.
23. The dietary shift to meat and dairy (which requires more water) has been the greatest to impact on water consumption over the past 30 years.
24. The average human being uses 12 gallons a day to cook, bathe, drink and toilet.
25. There is a lot to be thankful for on Thanksgiving Day – including water. To get dinner for 8, with all the trimmings, to the table takes almost 43,000 gallons of water. That could fill an Olympic swimming pool.