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A push to conserve before it all dries up

By ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published March 22, 2007

The world puts a tremendous strain on one of its most precious natural resources: water. Global water use - for consumption, sanitation, agriculture, urbanization and industrialization, among other needs - is increasing at more than twice the rate of population growth, the United Nations estimates. One in six people worldwide doesn't have access to the minimum recommended daily amount of freshwater. The theme of the 2007 U.N. World Water Day, celebrated today, focuses on this scarcity of water. Events held around the world today will help U.N. Water, the body that assists member states in achieving water and sanitation goals, emphasize the need for cooperation to protect scarce water resources.

www.unwater.org/wwd07

75 Percent of the Earth covered by water. But only a small fraction of it is available as freshwater.

70-95 Percent of withdrawn freshwater that goes toward producing food.

3,900 Gallons of water to produce 2.2 pounds of grain-fed beef.

390 Gallons of water to produce 2.2 pounds of wheat.

8.1-billion Expected global population by 2030.

0.5 to 1.3 Gallons of water a person needs daily for drinking.

5 to 13 Minimum gallons of safe freshwater per person daily for basic needs like drinking, cooking and cleaning.

13 Gallons of water that the average household in an industrialized city with plenty of water flushes down the toilet every day.

1.1-billion People who don't have access to the minimum recommended daily amount of freshwater.

2 in 5 People who lack proper sanitation facilities.

3,800 Children dying daily from diseases associated with a lack of safe drinking water and proper sanitation.

Source: U.N. Water

[Last modified March 22, 2007, 02:07:49]