Categories: Quick Tips

Friday Quickie: Take your Water Footprint! (& Improve your habits, dammit!)

Did you know that globally 70% of water used is for agriculture?  Were you aware that 1 in 3 people worldwide are affected by water scarcity?

Although water problems may seem foreign to us, water conservation is still essential here in our hometown.  As we pointed out on our Twitter feed, yesterday (March 22) was World Water Day, which focuses on the sustainability & importance of freshwater.

Assess your household’s water usage with the Water Footprint Calculator.  It’s a fun and interactive quiz that asks you a variety of questions (I switched answers just to see their other cartoons!)  The average American uses 1190 gallons of water per day!

Readers, share with us in the comments how much water you use. How do you plan on reducing your water use? Turning off the faucet or shower? Switch to bar soap? I’ll start by confessing: I use 614 gallons/day (according to the calc) but definitely could turn off the water more while showering.

 

Pic courtesy of laist.

Julie Hancher

Julie Hancher is Editor-in-Chief of Green Philly, sharing her expertise of all things sustainable in the city of brotherly love. She enjoys long walks in the park with local beer and greening her travels, cooking & cat, Sir Floofus Drake.

Share
Published by
Julie Hancher

Recent Posts

Legislation for affordable water? New bus routes, & more

Catch up on the latest sustainability news:  Committee considers bills to make water more affordable.…

4 days ago

Environmental concerns loom over World Cup events

Host cities for the 2026 FIFA World Cup face issues with pollution, heat and waste.…

4 days ago

Growing food or energy? Agrivoltaics says Pennsylvania farms can do both

Agrivoltaics, combining agriculture and solar energy, could be a tool in climate change, support farmers…

1 week ago

Farm tool library, brush fires delay trains, & more

Catch up on the latest sustainability news:  Farm tools and resources soon open to the…

2 weeks ago

800 bags of litter gone, making data centers pay, Philly parks climb the ranks & more

Catch up on the latest sustainability news:  City partners with Quebec on sustainable transit. At…

2 weeks ago

Looking for sustainability solutions? These 55 organizations showed what’s possible.

Attendees found a way for sustainability to feel tangible, local and social at Green Philly's…

3 weeks ago