Where is the Future Headed?
Safe and easily accessible water is vital for the entire population, whether for drinking, domestic use, and agricultural production.
Even while public awareness of water usage has increased in recent years, much more can be done in this area. As the world’s population rises, so does the water demand, resulting in an unavoidable problem: water shortage. LawnStarter has compiled a list of informative statistics regarding water usage, fundamental causes, water pollution, and much more.
Key Takeaways
- Only 0.5% of the world’s freshwater is suitable for human use
- Globally, we use around 4 trillion m³ of fresh water each year
- 5 countries with the most water consumption are Canada, Armenia, New Zealand, the United States, and Costa Rica
- American households use about 138 gallons of water per day
- Every eight seconds, a child dies from water-related diseases
- 2 million tons of sewage are released on the Earth’s waters every day
- 80 percent of all illnesses and deaths worldwide are caused by water-related diseases
- By 2050, water demand is expected to increase from 20 to 30 percent
Global Consumption Statistics
Water covers 71 percent of the Earth, so every year, the Earth’s water quantity remains constant. However, 97 percent of it is salty water in the oceans, leaving us only 3 percent of fresh water. Moving forward, 2.5 percent of that water is frozen, meaning that only 0.5 percent of fresh water is suitable for human consumption.
Worldwide, we use more than 4 trillion cubic meters of freshwater per year. From the beginning of 2022, we have consumed more than 2,002 trillion cubic meters of fresh water. Besides human consumption, 70 percent of freshwater withdrawals are used for agricultural purposes, 20 percent for industrial use, and the remaining 10 percent for domestic use.
Water usage differs from country to country and is influenced by many factors, such as population growth, industrial, and agricultural use. To figure out which countries use the most water, Finish teamed up with Dan Krause, a senior conservation biologist, and Dr. Ali Nazemi, an associate professor, to create the Finish Comparison Tool, which surveyed users about their water usage.
TOP FIVE COUNTRIES WITH THE HIGHEST WATER CONSUMPTION
- United States: 2,842 cubic meters per capita
- Canada 2,333: cubic meters per capita
- New Zealand 1,589: cubic meters per capita
- Costa Rica 1,490: cubic meters per capita
- Armenia 1,439: cubic meters per capita
Humans consume water for different purposes, outside of their basic necessities. Let’s see how many gallons of water Americans use for their daily activities:
- One flush of toilet: 3 Gallons
- Dishwasher: 4–10 Gallons
- Washing Machine: 15 Gallons
- 10-minute shower: 20 Gallons
- Full tub: 36 Gallons
Unfortunately, not all the available fresh water goes to proper use. According to the Washington State Department of Health, the average person wastes up to 30 gallons of water per day. So, it is this safe and accessible water we waste that people in Africa do not have access to, forcing them to rely on potentially hazardous drinking water sources.
Bottled Water Consumption
Worldwide, bottled water usage is increasing by 7 percent. Although it has its advantages, it also comes with several drawbacks, such as 14 million tons of plastic ending up in the ocean yearly. This means that every minute that goes by, a million plastic bottles are being purchased, and what may be a one-time use to society is a lifetime threat to the ocean.
The bottled water industry revenue is generated the most in the United States, reaching $86,40 billion in 2022.
Moreover, the U.S. bottled water market as of 2022 is $228.84 billion, and it is only expected to increase to $322.85 billion by 2028.
Regarding bottled water consumption per capita, Mexico, Italy, Thailand, and the United States lead the list.
TOP FOUR COUNTRIES THAT CONSUME THE MOST BOTTLED WATER PER CAPITA
- Mexico: 74.7 Gallons
- Italy: 58.8 Gallons
- Thailand: 57 Gallons
- U.S45.2: Gallons
Water Pollution and Diseases
Water pollution has been a long-standing problem for humanity, with 2 million tons of sewage being released into the Earth’s waters every day. By considering the rate of climate change and population growth, more than 2 billion people live in water-stressed countries—a number that will only rise if we do nothing.
Globally, 2 billion people lack access to safe and accessible water. Out of them:
- 1.2 billion people have access to an improved water source 30 minutes away from their location
- 282 million people have limited access to an improved water source more than 30 minutes away from their location
- 368 million people consume water from unsafe wells and springs
- 122 million people collect water from unsafe sources such as lakes and rivers
More often than not, this leads to them being exposed to diseases such as diarrhea—which causes 485,000 deaths every year—cholera, typhoid, and polio. These water-related diseases account for 80 percent of all illnesses and deaths worldwide, which is unfortunate given that they are easily preventable. Another concerning fact is that every eight seconds, a child dies from water-related diseases, resulting in 10,800 deaths per day.
Through a 2021 survey, Gallup revealed that out of all the environmental issues we face, 56 percent of Americans are concerned about the pollution of drinking water, and 53 percent are concerned about the pollution of rivers, lakes, and reservoirs.
Water Pollution Remains A Top Environmental Concern in the United States
Through a 2021 survey, Gallup revealed that out of all the environmental issues we face:
- 0 percent Of Americans are concerned about the pollution of drinking water
- 0 percent Of Americans are worried about the corruption of rivers, lakes, and reservoirs
Where is the Future Headed?
Global water demand is expected to increase over the next two decades in all three sectors: industry, domestic, and agriculture. Water demand for all uses will also increase by 20% to 30% by 2050.
While water demand is increasing, the supply is decreasing. In 2010, 1.9 billion people lived in severely water-scarce places, and this number is expected to increase to 3.2 billion by 2050.
The decrease in water supply will also impact fires around the U.S. Since the beginning of 2022, there have been 32 big fires that have burned over 1.6 million acres in five states. Due to high temperatures and dryness throughout the summer, critical fire weather conditions are expected in regions like Nevada, Utah, Alaska, and northwest Arizona.
The burden on the water system will also increase as, by 2050, the world’s population is expected to grow to between 9.4 billion and 10.2 billion. This population growth is predicted to accelerate in developing countries such as Africa and Asia, where water shortage is already a tremendous concern.
What Can You Do to Help?
Even if it seems that reducing your water usage would have a little global impact, it is the little things that make a difference. So, here are some steps you can take in order to help our ecosystem.
- When washing your teeth, turn off the faucet Save: 2 gallons of water per minute
- Avoid taking long showers Save: 2-11 gallons of water per minute
- Repair dripping taps Save: 4 gallons of water per day
- Run the dishwasher only when it is full Save: 1 gallon of water per day
- Acquire a water meter Keep track of how much water is used
- Invest in water-saving filters Start from your own home
Data Source: Water Consumption Statistics - Lawnstarter