The importance of water

1. The importance of water And Water Rights

2. The presence of water • 70-75% of earth’s surface is covered with water • Much more fresh water is stored under the ground in aquifers than on the earth’s surface • Of all the water on earth, humans can only use 3/10 of a percent of this water.

3. Water in the United States • US uses about 346,000 million gallons of fresh water everyday. • The US uses nearly 80% of its water for irrigation and thermoelectric power • An average US person uses 80-100 gallons of water per day. Flushing the toilet takes of largest amount of water

4. Water in the Human Body • ~70% of adult’s body is made up of water. • A person can live about a month without food, but only a week without water. • Water leads to overall great health by flushing out wastes and bacteria that cause disease. • Water can decrease risk of cancer.

5. The need for clean water • Drinking contaminated water is leading cause of epidemic disease in developing countries • Clean, healthy drinking water is essential to a child’s proper mental and physical development • Water can cause birth defects. • 3.41 million people die each year from water, sanitation and hygiene related causes each year

6. Problems

7. Problems

8. Problems • 780 million people lack access to an improved water source; approximately one in nine people. • The water and sanitation crisis claims more lives through disease than any war claims through guns. • People living informal settlements (i.e. slums) often pay 5-10 times more per liter of water than wealthy people in the same city. • An American taking a five-minute shower uses more water than the average person in a developing country slum uses for an entire day.

9. Solutions Needed

10. Solutions • Clean water • Share Water • Save water • It is up to you to find solutions!