Water scarcity – drought – is a major problem. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) states that due to climate change fresh water supplies needed for agriculture are in decline and are affecting the production of crops for food.

For years governments and water companies (and the media) have emphasised the need and responsibility of the public to conserve water used for domestic purposes. They state that every drop of water counts and recommend that we minimise wastage by fixing leaky pipes and taps, installing water-efficient devices, taking less and shorter showers, and turning off taps when brushing our teeth.

Counting every drop of water can necessitate an enormous amount of personal time, effort, and expense. A complete change of daily habits and routines. So what value do these water efficiency drives have? How much water are we really using and could really save? To find the answers, this study focuses on the United States and on official U.S. government and agency sources.

How Much Water is Needed and How Much Can be Saved?

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) American Institute of Biological Sciences (AIBS) Each year, an average American consumes: Around 140,000 litres [a] of fresh water . This is for domestic purposes such as bathing, washing clothes, watering the garden, drinking, and so on. Each person can reduce water consumption by: Using water-efficient devices: 28,000 litres [b] . Fixing leaks and being less ‘wasteful’ [c] : 15,000 litres[d]. This totals 43,000 litres. The water needed for one kilogram (KG) of beef: 43,000 litres. This is the same as water efficiency savings . One steak = one year’s time, effort, and expense . Most water (98%) [e] is needed to grow crops as animal feed. Several KGs of (corn) grain are needed for each KG of beef.

How Much Water is Needed to Produce Meat, Dairy, and Eggs?

American Institute of Biological Sciences

(AIBS) U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and The Water Footprint Network (WFN, cited by USDA) Cow: 43,000 litres per KG



Chicken: 3,500 litres per KG



Pig: 6,000 litres per KG



Sheep: 51,000 litres per KG

Cheese: 3,178 litres per KG



Butter: 5,553 litres per KG



Chicken egg: 189 litres per Egg



Milk: 1,020 litres per Litre

AIBS and USDA figures for pigs are the same. USDA estimates are higher for chicken (4,325 litres) and lower for beef (15,415 litres) and sheep (10,412 litres).

Figures vary because farming methods and practices vary. One kilogram of beef may need anything between 9,000 – 200,000 litres depending on method and practice.

How Much Water is Needed to Eat Meat, Dairy, and Eggs?



American Institute of Biological Sciences (AIBS) and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) [1],[2],[3],[4],[5] Each year, an average American consumes: Cow*: 25 KG – 1,075,000 litres



Chicken*: 41 KG – 143,500 litres



Pig: 22 KG – 132,000 litres



Sheep*: 1.3 KG – 66,300 litres

* AIBS figures used for cow, chicken, and sheep.

Each year, an average American consumes: Cheese*: 15 KG [f] – 47,670 litres



Butter: 2.5 KG [g] – 13,882 litres



Chicken Eggs: 276 – 55,373 litres



Milk: 80 litres [h] – 81,600 litres

*Selected varieties of cheese only.

These figures do not include:

Meat, dairy, and egg products from other animals such as turkeys, ducks, and goats.



Animals farmed for their skin, fur, feathers, as laboratory experiments, or as pets.



Pet food.

TOTAL (AIBS): 1,615,325 litres

AIBS figures used for cow, chicken, and sheep.

TOTAL (USDA): 906,760 litres

USDA figures used for cow, chicken, and sheep.



Does Domestic ‘Water efficiency’ Really Make a Difference?

Domestic Water Use Per Year Domestic Water Efficiency Per Year Average American: 140,000 litres Accounts for 8-13% of total use . Is less than needed for chicken or beef . An unnecessary animal-based diet accounts for almost 10 times necessary domestic use. Average American: 43,000 litres Accounts for 2-4% of total use . Less than needed for all animal products listed except butter . As much or more can be saved by not eating a single beef or lamb steak (AIBS estimates).

A key 2012 study cited by the USDA and WFN (that provided the official 15,415 litre figure for beef per KG) itself states in its abstract (emphasis added):

The rising global meat consumption and the intensification of animal production systems will put further pressure on the global freshwater resources in the coming decades… it is more water-efficient to obtain calories, protein and fat through crop products than animal products.

Findings Based on the Data

If the average American stopped using any and all water completely for domestic purposes, the 140,000 litres saved would only reduce their water consumption by about 10%. This would not even cover half of the USDA-estimated water needed to produce the average amount of beef consumed.

Water efficiency drives by governments and water companies – to save a not-so whopping 2-4% of water used by the average American in this case – do not make any real difference.

The saying “Stepping Over Dollars to Pick Up Dimes” is a huge understatement. It is a waste of time and money. It is a blatant scam. The average American can save:

About the same amount of water by not eating a chicken’s egg (189 litres) as by taking an officially-recommended 5 minute shower [i] amount of water by not eating a chicken’s egg (189 litres) as by taking an officially-recommendedinstead of a bath (170-227 litres)

Almost as much water by not eating cheese as by undertaking all recommended home water efficiency changes .

More than double the water by not eating beef than by switching their water supply off .

Over 80% of water by switching from an animal to a plant-based diet than compared to saving 2-4% by undertaking all recommended home water efficiency changes.

Questions

Why are governments and water companies publicly ignoring Animal Agriculture’s massive drain on fresh water supplies?

Why are governments and water companies knowingly pushing ineffective water ‘efficiency drives’ on domestic use and penalising the public? And despite being aware that fresh water supplies are fast running out?

How much government subsidies – taxpayer money – are being given to Animal Agriculture to keep meat, dairy, and eggs cheap despite the enormous resources used?

[a] Estimated at between 80-100 Gallons per day. 100 (gallons) x 365 (days) = 36,500 gallons per year. 1 U.S. Gallon = 3.7 litres. 3.7 x 36,500 = 138,168 litres.

[b] Estimated at 20% (140,000 Litres / 100) * 20 = 28,000 litres.

[c] E.g. less and shorter showers, turning the tap off when brushing teeth, and so on.

[d] Average U.S. Household is 2.6 people. 38,000 litres / 2.6 people = 14,615 litres.

[e] http://waterfootprint.org/media/downloads/Mekonnen-Hoekstra-2012-WaterFootprintFarmAnimalProducts.pdf (page 408).

[f] Estimated at 35 pounds per capita in 2015. One pound = 0.45 KG. 35 * 0.45 = 15.75.

[g] Estimated at 5.6 pounds per capita in 2015. One pound = 0.45 KG. 5.6 * 0.45 = 2.5.

[h] Estimated at 21.8 gallons per capita for 2017. 1 U.S. gallon = 3.7 litres. 3.7 x 21.8 = 80 litres.

[i] Can save between 45-60 gallons. 1 U.S. Gallon = 3.7 litres.