40 shocking facts about water

Great article. I think I “knew” some of that, but not with this level of detail and precision. Online newspaper reading just got a whole lot (even) more fashionable.

Excellent presentation, Matt; I didn’t even start thinking about these things until I spent some time in Thailand.

So, so many of the world’s problems come down to this issue. Water is THE #1 need of all humans, and the fact that for hundreds of millions of us this need is not met is beyond tragic.

Great round-up of stats! Over the past year I’ve been looking closely at my water bill and am shocked at how many gallons I use! So I have been trying to be very conscious of my water use to whittle that number down more each month. Thanks for the reminder of how precious water is!

Matt, great article! I think a lot of people in the U.S. aren’t really aware of the problems that are arising due to water shortages. It’s a good reason to drink tap water instead of buying it bottled.

Might I suggest a little work in editing? For example, #24 and #34 are essentially the same statistic, except that the number differs by (over) 100,000,000 people. There are several other examples in which the same statistic is essentially reused several times throughout the list.

It’s a vitally important topic, so I laud you for writing the list. I think it will have greater impact if it doesn’t seem “padded”.

Great facts and statistics. I learned some of this when I was in third grade I think, but this really puts a human face on the problem.

Mike, you just read all this the fact that most bothers you is that the editing was not sufficent! I think you missed the point a little!

Hey, great article! FYI, the link in number 16 seems broken.

The first pic is taken in Vietnam, right?? So sad!

Hello,

We run a portal for all water/sanitation related topics in India.
Here are some facts/case studies related to drinking water -

http://www.indiawaterportal.org/tt/dwm/

You could also follow our blog on -

http://www.indiawaterportal.org/blog

This is all very sad.It seems that a lot of the facts are related to America. Is it really that wasteful of a country. I hope not, or they really need to do something. If someone can live of 4 litres of water Im sure they can do a little better.

How do we know that these “facts” arn’t just made up?

its good to know about the water shortage in the world thank you

water is good

[...] around you, especially those in water. If you need more convincing read this article – “40 shocking facts about water”. If you choose to just wait for the diarrhea to pass on its own, you may end up with a nice, juicy [...]

hey, it’s a wonderful & heart touching true article Matt. Thanks for such a nice one!
I believe this article wiil inspire many people to conserve water.

well i think that artical will help those people out a lot because some people have compasionate hearts and feel its thier obligation to give these people what they need but some are heartless and cold blooded adn dont help if they can so thanks for this artical

[...] 6.) Don’t buy bottled water. [...]

your article was fabulous. it should be published in a newspaper. we waste so much of water without knowing it’s value and deprive those who are in dire need of it. your article will certainly help realise people the value of the water that they use callously.

[...] day that makes a big difference. Bottled or tap, sir? Crystal Geyser or sink water, madam? Sadly, the entire world doesn’t have strict practice for recycling, and those plastic bottles don’t end up as [...]

[...] day that makes a big difference. Bottled or tap, sir? Crystal Geyser or sink water, madam? Sadly, the entire world doesn’t have strict practice for recycling, and those plastic bottles don’t end up as [...]

why are all these people non-white?

Because they all live in places where water shortages and water cleanliness problems are prominent.

[...] CONNECTION What is more relaxing than the sound of flowing water? Water is perhaps the pervasive, powerful and peaceful element on Earth. Water sustains our life, [...]

[...] Today I got up and brushed my teeth, flushed my toilet and washed my hands. “The average toilet uses 8 litres of clean water in a single flush.” Source [...]

[...] I’ve been guilty of it for sure – letting the water run when I’m searching for my toothbrush, picking up a dropped toothpaste cap, groping for a towel to dry my face. I take it for granted, as if it’s an endless resource. [...]

I thiink because the maiin water problems are iiN Africa and Asia thats whyyyy ! x

[...] you want more info. about our water consumption, read Matt Scott’s article, 40 Shocking Facts About Water, then check out the full Nat Geo article to find out how you can conserve water today and everyday. [...]

Click on the links! Duh!

call me ignorant, but can someone explain why people in Africa donot have water? they are surrounded by the ocean and seas, I understand that they don’t have water systems , but why? I think they still get a lot in humanitarian aid, why can’t someone engineer the water systems?

It’s because sea and ocean water is salty, and salt water is not good to drink. They can’t get water pipes because nearly two-thirds of them live on less than $2 a day, remember?

Sadly, this makes me want to go turn on the washing machine, the dishwasher, the shower, flush the toilet and run the tap while I brush my teeth. Especially because these sorts of things do not actually use up the most water. They create a guilt trip for people who live in developed countries while not actually assisting anything.

The most water in developed countries is used agriculturally in something called ‘virtual water’. You could run the water while you brush your teeth for a month at least before you use up as much virtual water as your jeans did in the making. This is called ‘virtual water’, and is the greatest source of ‘wasted’ water in the developed country.

Valuable data… The need of the hour is not to just write or think but to work and act to preserve WATER!!

[...] ¿Quieres leer esto en inglés? [...]

I’m not advocating turning on a faucet and walking away–or any kind of water waste–but you make it sound like being American somehow equates to ignorance, wastefulness, and indulgence at every turn. Am I supposed to feel sorry that I live in a great nation? I use–and pay for–what I need, want, and have available to me, and I conserve when and where I can, but without being manic about it.
No one in any of the developing countries forces the population to reproduce. Maybe instead of worrying about water they could worry about why they keep producing dozens of children per family…all of whom will need water to survive.
The majority of this article was the same statistic (diarrhea is bad, mmkay?) said in many ways. Maybe some of these children would survive if their irresponsible, ignorant, and primitive parents exercised forethought by having only the amount of children that they can sustain. The same goes for the poor in our cities, for that matter.

The facts and statistics on water were quite interesting. Many were quite disturbing to hear about. Great article to read and have a clear perspective on water. The author deserves much appreciation.

http://www.waluinternational.org/

people need help in the world why not help them

Water should be free…from corruption, capitalisation, speculation and manipulation in the name of…humanitarian, development, health and commoditization

Benevolent interventions giving water, nourishment, result in unnatural population expansions in regions where the environments are already over taxed, and sustainability is impossible. Wider scope must be undertaken, even to the total development of a region, its people, its resources. Altruistic efforts must not end in undue human death and suffering due to unsustainable, unrealistic, interventions. cautious education , likely the least harmful intervention will not result in quick solutions, but on the longer tern may be the most humane. 

Benevolent interventions giving water, nourishment, result in unnatural population expansions in regions where the environments are already over taxed, and sustainability is impossible. Wider scope must be undertaken, even to the total development of a region, its people, its resources. Altruistic efforts must not end in undue human death and suffering due to unsustainable, unrealistic, interventions. cautious education , likely the least harmful intervention will not result in quick solutions, but on the longer tern may be the most humane. 

I never knew these facts about Water – Thank You – Nice article

I never knew these facts about Water – Thank You – Nice article

How Sad Is this..I really wanna cry i mean im sitting here drinking water i just think they have nothing except Disgusting Water i sent a dollar & Canned food 1 Months Ago – Adrianna

nooo very sad

Really,sad.We enjoy water sports here and they are just not getting their proper ware requirements.We will all have to work for it and see that everyone gets at least basic requirements