• Freshwater

    • Only a tiny fraction of Earth's water is freshwater, or water that we can drink. Freshwater is becoming a threatened natural resource in more and more places around the world.

    • Freshwater

  • Your actual use of water today

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    • Your actual water use

    The daily use of freshwater per person is 3,400 liters (global average). Most of this water (over 90 percent) is not used because we take long showers - we use it as “virtual water” through the products we buy.

    You use water all over the world

    As you read this, water is used all over the world to provide you with the food, clothing, electronics etc. you will buy in the time to come.

    Water use varies widely

    An average person's daily use of freshwater differs a lot between countries. The United States has the highest consumption with 6,800 liters per person. Yemen has the lowest with 1,700 liters per person.

    What to do?

    You can help to improve the global water situation. Don't stop drinking water. And don't stop showering. Instead, look at the products you buy, and support those companies who take responsibility for their water usage.

    Recycling also works!

    For example, aluminum products made from recycled aluminum take just 17 percent of the water required to make the same product from new aluminum.

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