Just curious- how often do you think about water? Where it comes from, how it gets to you, is it safe, is it affordable?

Depending on where you live, your answer will be vastly different. For people living in extreme poverty, it’s a constant concern. For people in much of the Global North, not so much.

I represent the latter group. Even though I shower every morning, wash my hands throughout the day, carry around my water bottle, and rely on water to cook, it’s not something I think about. I don’t even have to pay for water- my landlord does. And I don’t have to worry about whether it’s going to make me sick.  Surprisingly, my current city, New York, is renowned for its clean water.

It’s easy to take water for granted when you don’t have to think about it. But, as the UN Deputy Secretary-General Eliasson put it, “Water is life”.* To prove that point, here are some surprising ways we rely on water in our daily lives.

1. In India, “severe water scarcity is exacerbated by the cotton industry,” according to the Guardian. Wrap your mind around this: currently, more than 100 million people in India lack access to safe water. However, in 2013, India used so much water to grow its cotton exports that it could have been “enough to supply 85% of the country’s 1.24 billion people with 100 litres of water every day for a year.”

2. In California, approximately 93% of the state is experiencing severe drought or worse. So what gives? For starters, the state has had minimal rainfall and snow over the past few years. But, it’s also worth considering California’s agricultural impact. I was dumbfounded to learn that “California's agricultural output demands a lot of water. Irrigation claims up to 41 percent of the state's water supply”, according to the Atlantic. Crazy right? California produces almost all of the US’ artichokes, pistachios, lemons and processed tomatoes. Additionally, water- thirsty almonds grow exclusively in the state, consuming 600 gallons of water per pound of nuts. Woah.

3. Speaking of the US, did ya know America uses more water in a day than oil in a year? Just think about that for a second. That’s a lot of water!

4. Here’s another interesting stat. If you’ve lived or traveled in the US, you probably know that Americans love to indulge in long showers. But imagine this: the average American uses more water in a 5 minute shower than a person in a slum in the developing world uses in an entire day. Just think- that ideally would include drinking water, water for cooking, water for cleaning and washing, etc.

5. As a “militant vegetarian”, I can’t  help slipping this one in- meat production uses A TON of water!NPR reports that “It takes more than 2,400 gallons of water to produce 1 pound of meat, while a pound of wheat uses 25 gallons.” James McWilliams also wrote a really interesting op-ed on the subject titled “Meat makes the planet thirsty,” which ties back into the water crisis in California.

Currently, 748 million people lack access to safe water. As we cool down with a refreshing glass of water on a hot day, indulge in a hot bath, cozy up in a soft cotton shirt, or reach for some almonds, let’s think about that. Without water, we truly have nothing. Let’s work together to ensure all people have access to it- sign the petition by clicking the Take Action button.

*Actually, the Deputy Secretary General’s full quote was “Water is life, sanitation is dignity”, but I think he’ll forgive me for shortening it.