Nearly
97 percent of all the world’s water is salty or otherwise undrinkable.
Another 2 percent is locked in ice caps and glaciers. That leaves 1 percent
for all our needs. Water
regulates the Earth’s temperature. It also regulates the temperature of the
human body! The
average total home water use for each person in the U.S. is about 50 gallons a
day. The
average cost for water supplied to a home in the U.S. is about $2.00 for 1,000
gallons, which equals about 5 gallons for a penny. More
water is used in the bathroom than any other place in the home. A
dripping faucet can waste up to 2,000 gallons of water a year.
Turn
off the tap in your bathroom while you brush your teeth. Take
shorter showers. (Get a timer and time yourself.) Don't
let the water run constantly while you're washing or rinsing dishes. Fill
a pitcher with tap water and put it in the fridge, rather than running the tap
every time you want a cold drink! Clean
sidewalks and driveways with a broom--not the water hose! Water
your lawn in the early morning to avoid evaporation. Repair
dripping faucets. Place
a layer of mulch around trees and plants to retain water.
