The Number One Way You Can Save Water on World Water Day and Beyond

Every year on March 22, World Water Day reminds us all to conserve water in any way we can, shining a spotlight on a growing global issue as freshwater supplies shrink and billions of individuals struggle to access clean drinking water.

You’ve probably heard the familiar advice: Every drop counts. Take shorter showers. Turn off the tap while brushing your teeth. Fix leaky faucets. While we can all cut down our water use with these simple habits, our biggest water footprint doesn’t happen in our bathrooms. It happens at mealtime.

The Major Culprit Behind the Water Crisis

Here’s something the meat, egg, and dairy industries don’t want you to know: Animal agriculture is one of the biggest consumers of water on the planet. In the U.S. alone, an estimated 55 percent of the freshwater supply goes to raising animals for food. That’s because vast amounts of water are used to grow crops to feed animals on farms and to clean filthy farms and slaughterhouses. Here are some shocking stats:

• Each day, humans worldwide drink an estimated 5.2 billion gallons of water. Cows drink roughly eight and a half times that amount in a day—45 billion gallons.
• Just one beef burger can use about 625 gallons of water. That’s roughly the equivalent of 40 showers.
• Just one slice of bacon can require about 45 gallons of water.
• One pound of cheese uses about 900 gallons of water.
• A carton of eggs uses about 636 gallons of water.
• A gallon of milk stolen from mother cows requires about 1,000 gallons of water. 

Meanwhile, the cruel commercial fishing industry is destroying our oceans’ delicate ecosystems. Coastal fish farms release feces, antibiotics, parasites, and non-native species into sensitive marine ecosystems, further damaging ocean habitats.

On the other hand, growing vegetables for human consumption uses far less water. For example, it takes about 25 gallons of water to grow a pound of wheat, and studies estimate that veggie burgers require more than 75% less water than beef burgers.

Want to Know How to Save H20?

The single biggest action you can take to preserve water is to go vegan. Each person who goes vegan can save approximately 219,000 gallons of water—and 200 animals—every year. And the benefits don’t stop there: Living kindly also slashes your carbon footprint and can boost your health.

So if you really want to celebrate World Water Day, make the compassionate switch, and encourage others to do the same. Every animal is someone, from social cows who form lifelong friendships, to mother hens who call to their chicks before they even hatch.

Water you waiting for? Take the 3-week vegan challenge today!