Your Water Footprint is Much Bigger than You Might Think

The average Californian uses a lot more water than just what comes from the tap. 

 

A new study measuring California's water footprint finds that an eight-ounce cup of coffee, for example, uses 35 gallons of water, counting what it takes to grow the beans and transport the coffee.

The study is from the Pacific Institute in Oakland. President Peter Gleick says it shows most of our water footprint comes from food.

 

"We may choose, for example, to buy and eat less meat. Meat turns out to be a very water-intensive product to make."

 

Gleick says he hopes the study is the first step toward helping consumers make more sustainable choices. The water footprint for the average Californian is 15-hundred gallons a day… more than 10 times what we consume directly.

 

Article courtesy of KQED Public Media For Northern California by  Caitlin Esch