WaterSense
                                            Water  Supply  and  Use
                                                 in   the  United   States
     ~*  A later covers approximately 70 percent of
      \l \j the Earth's surface, but less than 1 percent
       V  V of that is available for human use. The
      world must share this small amount for agricultural,
      domestic, commercial, industrial, and environmen-
      tal needs. Across the globe, water consumption has
      tripled in the last 50 years. Managing the supply
      and availability of water is one of the most critical
      natural resource issues facing the United States and
      the world.

      Homes use more than half of publicly supplied
      water in the United States, which is significantly
      more than is used by either business or industry. A
      family of four can use approximately 400 gallons of
      water every day. Those amounts used can increase
      depending on location; for example, the arid West
      has some of the highest per capita residential water
      use because of landscape irrigation.
                               With water use in the United States increasing
                               every year, many regions are starting to feel the
                               pressure. In the last five years, nearly every region
                               of the country has experienced water shortages.
                               At least 36 states are anticipating local, regional, or
                               statewide water shortages by 2013, even under
                               non-drought conditions.

                               To help American homes and businesses make
                               more efficient use of their water, EPA has developed
                               WaterSense", a partnership program. By offering
                               simple ways to reduce water use through water-
                               efficient product choices-with no sacrifice to
                               quality or product performance-WaterSense
                               helps Americans save water and money.
July 2007
(866) WTR-SENS (987-7367) • www.epa.gov/watersense • watersense@epa.gov
Recycled/Recyclable—Printed with Vegetable Oil Based Inks on 100% Process Chlorine Free Recycled Paper.
     &EFA
EPA-832-F-06-006

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