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I
t’s easy to take water for
granted. Water is everywhere.
It’s the most common
substance on our planet. Water
covers more than 70 percent of
Earth. But only about 1 percent of
all Earth’s water is fresh water that
people can use.
Water is one of Earth’s most
precious
natural resources
.
All living things need water to
survive. In some areas of the
world, water is scarce and more valuable than gold. Even in parts of the
United States,
droughts
and water shortages can occur.
How Much Water Do We Use?
•
Each American uses about 300 to 380
liters (L)
of water each day.
•
Flushing the toilet uses between 15 and 26 L each time, depending
on the type of toilet.
•
A bath uses about 114 L.
•
A shower uses between 19 and 38 L per minute.
•
Do you leave the water running when you brush your teeth?
If so, you use from 3 to 7 L of water each time.
•
A dripping faucet can waste more than 3,800 L of water each year.
Water Everywhere
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