Thanksgiving thoughts…
As Thanksgiving approaches it is time to reflect on the many things to be grateful for in our lives. Most likely on an indivdual’s list are being grateful for the many people in our lives- our families and friendships, a warm home, plentiful food on the dinner table, and our health.
Sometimes overlooked is our easy access to clean, fresh, drinkable water available straight from our taps whenever we desire.
A few facts to consider as you fill your water pitcher and place it on your Thanksgiving dinner table:
- An American taking a five-minute shower uses more water than a slum-dweller in a developing country uses for an entire day.
- Over 2.5 times more people lack water than live in the United States.
- 97.5% of the earth’s water is saltwater. If the world’s water fit into a bucket, only one teaspoonful would be drinkable.
- The average American uses approximately 105 gallons of water per day.
- An old toilet uses at least 2.37 gallons of water a flush; a low-flush model uses as little as .75 gallons.
- Approximately 400 billion gallons of water are used in the United States per day.
- If you drink your daily recommended 8 glasses of water per day from the tap, it will only cost you about 50 cents per year.
- It takes more water to manufacture a new car (39,090 gallons) than to fill an above ground swimming pool.
- Water is the only substance found on earth naturally in three forms: solid, liquid and gas.
As you reflect on the things you are grateful for this Thanksgiving, don’t forget your access to clean drinking water!
We wish you and your family a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday!
