15-Aug-2017

It's easy to forget that water is the life-giving force behind just about everything on this planet.  One of the four basic elements (along with fire, earth, and the Kardashians), water is instrumental in humanity's survival.  So, in honor of those uber-important three molecules, let's take a look at some facts you might not know about water.

You are made up of 50-65% water (unless you happen to be an infant, in which case you are about 78% water)

Water makes up a little over 70% of the Earth's surface (as compared to asphalt, which clocks in at about 0.2%)

A gallon of water weighs 8.34 lbs, and a one-inch acre of water weighs just over 113 tons.  Kevin James weighs 290 lbs.

Of all the water on the planet, 97% is salt water.  The rest is either trapped in glaciers (2%) or in our rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, etc. (1%)

There is more water in the atmosphere than in all the rivers around the globe.

The United States uses more than 400,000,000,000 gallons of water per day. Almost 1/2 of that is for thermoelectric power.  Another substantial portion of that is my neighbor's sprinkler.

Over 25% of bottled water is sourced at a municipal water supply.

The average American home uses over 100,000 gallons per year.  My neighbor uses a lot more than that.

After evaporation, a water molecule stays in the air for roughly 10 days.

Approx. 74% of home water usage is in the bathroom.  21% is for laundry/cleaning, and 5% is in the kitchen.  

It takes around 4,000 gallons of water to grow one bushel of corn.  A bushel of wheat takes 11,000 gallons, and almost 135,000 gallons to grow a bushel of alfalfa.  It's unknown how many gallons were used to raise Carl Switzer. 

Chickens, elephants, and trees are 70% water.  Earthworms, corn, and pineapples are 80% water - all three were also ingredients in a casserole I believe my sister made once.

You can refill an 8 ounce glass of water about 15,000 times for the same price as a six pack of soda.

Keep checking back for more fun water facts!