USA, March 22, 2009: Potable water is destined to be a commodity in increasingly short supply. The image at the “Source” link (which HPI suggests as very enlightening on the subject) provides a compelling pictorial statement of various water-use choices, especially the tremendous drain on our resources represented by beef production.
Producing a single pound of beef requires 1,500 gallons of water. It takes 634 gallons of water to produce a hamburger, but only 6% of that (38 gallons) to produce a baked potato and a salad containing 1/2 lb. lettuce, 1/2 lb. tomato and 1/4 lb. carrots.
Breakfasting on a bowl of cereal with milk, an orange and a cup of tea (instead of two eggs, an apple and a cup of coffee) saves 83 gallons per person per day.
A 16-oz bottle of soda takes 33 gallons of water to produce–264 times as much as a 16-oz glass of water! At 8 cups per day, drinking water instead of those other beverages will save a minimum of 78 gallons of potable water per day. In contrast, converting one’s household to “Energy Star” appliances and low-flow toilets, faucets and shower heads can save perhaps 60 gallons per person per day.
And using nuclear energy to power a household requires 255 gallons per day; solar energy requires less than 1/10 that amount.