Wate and Me Fast Facts

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• Over three-fourths of the earth's surface is covered with water.
• Only 1 percent of this water is fresh water we can use.
1. 97 percent is saltwater
2. 2 percent is water frozen in glaciers
• Earth's fresh water supply is limited and threatened by pollution.
• Water moves in a cycle called the hydrologic cycle. This cycle occurs over and over again.
• The water you drink may have been a drink for a dinosaur.
• One person uses an average 168 gallons of water a day.

• The United States uses approximately 341 billion gallons of fresh water each day.
• In some areas of Texas, we are using our groundwater faster than it is being recharged (or put back) by rainfall and snow.
• Over 50 percent of our wetlands that recharge and purify groundwater have been destroyed in the United States.
• In the future, more water from the ocean will be treated to remove salt to make ocean water drinkable by people.
• Conserve water for future generations is everyone’ responsibility today.
• The harvesting of rainfall to use as a water source is becoming more popular in Texas.