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Water Facts |
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"All the
water that will ever be is, right now.”
—National Geographic, 1993
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Less than 1% of the world's fresh water (or about 0.007%
of all water on earth) is readily accessible for direct
human use. *1
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Every $1
spent on water and sanitation creates on average another $8
in costs averted and productivity gained. *1
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The average American individual uses 100 to 176 gallons
of water at home each day.
*2,*3
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Water systems fail at a rate of 50% or higher.
*4,* 5
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One inch of rain falling on one acre of land is equal to
about 27,154 gallons of water.
*6
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The 250
million U.S. residents living today have access to about the
same amount of water as U.S. residents did 200 years ago,
when the population was four million.
*7
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If present consumption patterns continue, two out of
every three persons on Earth will live in water-stressed
conditions by the year 2025.
*8
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About 3.5 million people depend on the Chattahoochee water
supply for their daily needs (which includes 70% of the
people who live in Metro Atlanta).
*9 |
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References |
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1. World
Health Organization Fact Sheet "Health in Water Resources
Development." |
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2. U.S. Geological Survey Fact
Sheet "Water Q&A: Water Use at Home." |
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3. World
Resources Institute, 1998 - 99 & 1996 - 97. "A Guide
to the Global
Environment." |
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4.
The Sphere Project Handbook "Humanitarian Charter and
Minimum Standards in Disaster Response." |
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5.
World Health Organization Fact Sheet "Sustainability and
Optimization of Water Supply and Sanitation Services." |
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6. United States
Geological Survey |
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7. National Drinking Water
Alliance |
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8. United Nations
Environment Program |
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9.
Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper
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