17 Surprising Facts About Water Usage and Availability on Earth

The Hidden World of Water: Earth’s Most Precious Resource

Water covers more than 70% of our planet, yet this seemingly abundant resource is far more limited and precious than most people realize. The reality of water usage and availability on Earth presents some startling facts that challenge our perceptions about this essential element of life. From the minuscule fraction available for drinking to the staggering amounts required for food production, these surprising statistics highlight why water conservation should be a global priority. Understanding these facts is increasingly crucial for sustainable water management worldwide.

1. Less than 1% of the water supply on earth can be used as drinking water.
2. By the time a person feels thirsty, his or her body has lost over 1 percent of its total water amount.
3. About 25,700 litres (6,800 gallons) of water is required to grow a day’s food for a family of four.
4. Groundwater can take a human lifetime just to traverse ONE mile.
5. A person can live about a month without food, but only about a week without water. If a human does not absorb enough water dehydration is the result.
6. Most of the earth’s surface water is permanently frozen or salty.
7. If all the world’s water were fit into a gallon jug, the fresh water available for us to use would equal only about one tablespoon.
8. When water contains a lot of calcium and magnesium, it is called hard water. Hard water is not suited for all purposes water is normally used for.
9. An acre of corn will give off 15,000 litres (4,000 gallons) of water per day in evaporation.
10. A small drip from a faucet can waste as much as 75 litres of water a day.
11. Of all the water on earth, only 2.5% is fresh water. Fresh water is either groundwater (0,5%), or readily accessible water in lakes, streams, rivers, etc. (0,01%).
12. As oceans are very wide and there are multiple to be found on earth, oceans store most of the earth’s water. This is apparently 97% of the total amount of water on earth, 2% of which is frozen.
13. Human bones are 25% water.
14. Most of the world’s people must walk at least 3 hours to fetch water.
15. Today, at least 400 million people live in regions with severe water shortages.
16. It takes 450 litres (120 gallons) of water to produce one egg.
17. Bottled water can be up to 1000 times more expensive than tap water and it may not be as safe. Related

Further reading:

• Drinking Water Contaminants – Standards and Regulations
• US EPA Safe Drinking Water Act
• US EPA EPA Dental Effluent Guidelines for the Dental Office Category