Buying that? No thanks, it takes too much water to make it! Additional water saving ideas
Daily actions use more water than we know. Little plastic bottles need 24 bottles of water to make each one and are then discarded, many still full of water. Reusable bottles are much less wasteful.
You help conserve water by your product choices, including the foods you consume.
Gallons of Water used to produce one pound of *
Figs 379
Plums 193
Cherries 185
Avocados 154
Corn 109
Banana 103
Apples 84
Grapes 78
Oranges 55
Beans 43
Strawberries 33
Potatoes 31
*Virtual global averages are given varying by region and method. (“Hidden Water”, National Geographic), http://mcrcd.org/wp-content/uploads/Nationall_Geographic_Hidden_Water.pdf
“Less thirsty crops [include] cabbage, strawberries, onions, lettuce, carrots, eggplant, grapefruit and tomatoes.” The LA Times advises that consuming less animal products saves quite a bit of water.
In the meat category, beef is the heftiest water user at 1,857 gallons per pound, while goat meat only needs 127 gallons.
(From steak to mangoes, here are some water-hogging foods, L.A. Times, http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-water-hungry-foods-20150406-story.html)
Paper takes 1500 gallons for a 500 sheet pack and jeans use 2,636 gallons, not including water used to wash them. Recycling these items saves all that water.
Only direct home water use impacts your water bill, but being aware of hidden water usage to make more water wise choices can be positive for everyone. Whether you are buying products grown in California, or elsewhere, it is worthwhile to make sure the ones you buy use water efficiently. Saving water is just another way to maintain a healthy world and lower our impact on this planet.
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