How much water do we really use?

A few days ago while driving aroundSandpoint, I started to notice all of the water that we were using as a community. I thought in this article that I would share with you some baseline information concerning our water use.

1. The human braiin is about 95 percent water and blood is about 82 percent water.

2. The human body needs about two quarts of water per day.

3. About 2.8 percent of the Earth's water is fresh water.

4. About 97.2 percent of the Earth's water is salt water.

5. The average human uses nine to 15 gallons of water to take a shower.

6. To water the average lawn takes about 180 gallons of water.

7. The average dishwater uses between eight and 13 gallons of water.

8. Leaking faucets can consume almost 60 gallons of water per day.

9. Dripping faucets over a year can consume almost 2,700 gallons of water.

10. When brushing our teeth, we consume two to five gallons of water.

11. Antartica holds 90 percent of the world's fresh water supply.

12. One gallon of water weighs 8.34 pounds.

13. The human lung is 88 percent water.

14. When washing clothes, we use 35 to 50 gallons of water.

15. Flushing our toilets consumes three to seven gallons of water.

Based on the above information, you might consider fixing those leaking water faucets and running toilets to keep those hard-earned dollars in your pocket.

If you would like to share a cleaning idea or concept with the reading audience, please call Ed at Northwest Environmental Services at (208) 255-2266 or send them to Bonner County Daily Bee, 310 Church St., Sandpoint, ID 83864, Attn: What Would Ed Do?

Copy written by Ed Madan, certified executive housekeeper