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WATER FACTS
Note: This page is not designed to be comprehensive, but does provide a primer for basic water issues discussions. Where cited, you are advised to follow up your research with other water authtorites, both local and international.
You may be interested or surprised to learn some of the facts involving clean and wastewater in our environment and
our society.
Below are just a few items that are designed to make you think next time you turn on a tap, have a drink, take a shower or bath or wash your
clothes.
Water, Water Everywhere ..... 
 Water is the 2nd Most Used Natural Resource on our planet:
- After air, but just as critical for survival;
- And is fundamental to life.
Water Covers Around 75% of the Earth's Surface with:
- 97% of this being salt water;
- 2.5% frozen in glaciers and ice caps;
- Leaving 0.5% for plants, animals and humans to share !
Global Water Use Patterns 
So what happens to this very limited available water resource?
87% of available non-saline water flows by river out to sea
- 13% is collected by plants, animals and humans.
- 5% is collected by humans in dams, tanks, canals, etc
70% of water collected by humans is used in Irrigation of Crops:
- 50% of this is lost through evaporation & soil infiltration.
30% of water collected by humans is in non-irrigation uses:
- 25% in industry, evaporation & leakage.
- 5% in human household drinkable (potable) water demand
  
So if so little % of water is actually required by human what are the water shortages in almost all nations about?
The real problem is that there is a shortage of clean or uncontaminated water.
The Typical Home Use/Waste of Water 
Let's look at a typical house demand for water.
In 1999-2001 a Typical Household in Australia had Average Water Usage as follows:
- 19% flushed in toilet use;
- 29% for bathing (shower/bath);
- 26% outdoor use (car wash, gardens, pools, etc);
- 20% for washing laundry;
- 6% in the kitchen (the only potable need !)
- <1% for drinking!
In 1999-2001 the Average Urban Residential in Each Day:
- Flushed a toilet 5 times a day (avegeraging 150 litres/day/home);
- Showered for 7 minutes.
So how much water is used in everyday house activities?
- 12 Litres per toilet flush (single flush unit)
- 50-150 Litres per bath
- 40-250 Litres per shower (depends on duration & nozzle flow
- 20-50 Litres per dishwasher
- 40-170 Litres per washing machines load
- 5 Litres per brushing teeth with tap on
- 8 Litres per day for drinking, cooking & cleaning
- 8 Litres per typical male shave
- 1,000 Litres per hour typical 3 outlet sprinkler
- 4 Litres per hour per dripper of drip irrigation system
- 100-300 Litres per car wash with running hose
- 30-150 Litres per day per leaky tap
These figures can vary considerably depending on the design of houshold appliances, building and personal habits.
That is a lot of potable water down the drain in a developed nation like Australia. What about the contaminated water in less developed nations of the Asia-Pacific region?
Serious Health Problems are Caused by "Dirty Water":
- > 500,000 deaths & illnesses in 1999;
- 1 child dies every 8 seconds due to lack of clean water - worldwide;
- Caused by contaminated water and poor or no sanitation;
Cost of Water is Increasing Everywhere:
- Purchase of clean water is at record prices;
- Disposal of effluent waste is rising even faster.
"Fresh water will become the most likely natural resource to cause wars"...
- Quote from The Economist - 1996
predicting the eventual outcome of continued trends in water pollution and
waste water generation.
Source: United Nations Environment Program, SIRA International, Sydney Water
What Is In The Water You Drink ?
You make your own conclusions.
| Item mg/L |
Inland City Supply |
Mountain Spring Water |
B RO Water |
Rainforest Spring Water |
'Selected' Spring Water |
Natural Spring Water |
| Chloride |
3 |
18 |
<2 |
10.8 |
NA |
12 |
| Sodium |
NA |
10 |
<2 |
7.4 |
1.4 |
16 |
| Magnesium |
NA |
2.8 |
<0.1 |
1.2 |
NA |
3 |
| Calcium |
NA |
2.0 |
<0.1 |
1.2 |
NA |
10 |
| Bicarbonate |
NA |
<0.1 |
<2.0 |
12.7 |
NA |
40 |
| Potassium |
NA |
0.64 |
<1.0 |
1.0 |
NA |
1 |
| Sulphate |
NA |
NA |
<1.5 |
<0.2 |
NA |
3 |
| Nitrates |
NA |
NA |
<0.1 |
<0.2 |
NA |
1.5 |
| Phosphorous |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
| Fluoride |
NA |
NA |
NA |
<0.1 |
NA |
NA |
| Total Dissolved Solids |
NA |
NA |
NA |
43 |
NA |
NA |
| Source: |
Canberra ACTEWAGL |
Peats Ridge 1L Bottle |
B Sample 600ml Bottle |
Golden Circle 10L Bottle |
Mount Franklin 1.5L Bottle |
Summit 110ml Cups |
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