A family of four can use as many as 400 gallons of water per day, but the products that family uses may consume a great deal more. Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University tracked water usage by 400 industrial sectors in the United States and found that manufacturers use nearly 270 gallons of water to product a dollar's worth of sugar, 140 gallons for a dollar's worth of milk and 200 gallons to make a dollar's worth of cat or dog food.
Most of the water used was through indirect means, such as packaging and shipping food, as opposed to direct consumption, like crop irrigation. The study only tracked withdrawals and didn't account for water recycled by the industry. But the estimates are still significant, especially given that indirect use far exceeded direct use in 96% of the sectors evaluated.
Effective water management is critical for social welfare and our fragile ecosystems. We can do our part, but everyone has to play the part to make a difference.
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