--Craig Meier, M.D.., family practice physician with Alegent Health Elkhorn Clinic.
Find out more about Dr. Meier
Q: What are the benefits of drinking water?
A: Water is a first line agent in my counseling of patients regarding weight loss and for numerous medical reasons. Water needs to be an essential part of one's diet. Most Americans do not consume the recommended quantity of eight 8 ounce glasses of water a day
Below are some interesting facts about water:
General
- Water is reusable and not renewable.
- The human body is comprised of 80% water.
- 70% of your skin is water.
- Only 1% of the earth's water is available for drinking; 2% is currently frozen.
- You can survive about a month without food, but only 5 to 7 days without water.
- It is possible to drink water that was here in the dinosaur era.
- Solid water can float on liquid water.
Domestic
- The average urban home of 4,6 people uses 640 liters of water per day.
- The average automatic dishwasher uses 68 liters of water per wash cycle.
- The average washing machine uses about 100 liters of water per wash cycle.
- The average bath holds between 150 and 200 liters of water when filled.
- A toilet is the single biggest user of indoor water.
- A 100-watt light bulb left on for 12 hours uses almost three liters of water. This is the amount of water required to generate 100 watts of electricity for 12 hours.
- More than 50% of water applied to lawns is lost to evaporation or run-off due to overwatering and watering during the heat of the day instead of early morning or late afternoon.
