Water and You
Learn more about the impact water has on all aspects of life and read about the economic impact of water investment via the Value of Water Campaign.
Water is life. It nourishes us. It cleans us and sustains us.
- The average American uses 80-100 gallons of water per day—that’s 29,200-36,500 gallons a year!
- 37% of water in America is used in agriculture to produce the food we eat.
- In your home, on average, toilets use the most water, followed by showers, faucets, clothes washers, and pesky leaks.
Water and the Environment
71% of the Earth is water. From seas to lakes, to rivers and creeks, water is everywhere. Valuing water means valuing the health of our environment.
- 322 billion gallons of freshwater are withdrawn every day in the United States, a downward trend since 2005.
- 41 percent of that water (132 billion gallons) is used to produce thermoelectric power.
- Approximately 2-4% of US energy is used for transporting, treating, and pumping water.
- More than one-third of all counties in the lower 48 states will face higher risks of water shortages by mid-century as a result of global warming.
Water and the Economy
Water is the lifeblood of our economy. We rely on it for manufacturing, energy production, transporting materials across the globe, and more.
- The United States must invest roughly $3.4 trillion over 20 years to repair and modernize its water, wastewater, and stormwater systems.
- A single nationwide day without water service would cost the US economy nearly $120 billion, 527,000 jobs, and $69 billion in GDP.
- 1 to 3.68 is the water jobs multiplier. Every job created in the water sector helps add another 3.68 jobs in the national economy.
- Every $1 spent on infrastructure improvements in the US generates $2.50 in returns.
Water and the Community
Water connects us. Water is a joyful summer memory, a gathering place, a unifier. Water brings families and friends together in countless ways.
- There are over 148,000 public water systems in the United States.
- The vast majority of Americans—nine out of ten—receive their tap water through public utilities. These systems are typically fed by either groundwater or surface water sources.
- About 26.7 million people, or 8 percent of the population, live in areas where the demand for water consistently outpaces the local surface water supply.
