Why Are You Thankful for Water?

How often do you think about water? I mean really, really think about it – where it comes from, how it got to your home, where it goes when you are done with it. When you get up in the morning, you probably use the bathroom, take a shower, and brush your teeth. In all of those activities, you are using water – and that's before you even start your day! According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the average American uses 82 gallons of water per day. You probably just turned the tap on and did not worry whether it was going to come out clean or if there was any left. Then, when you were done with it, it went down the drain, and it was no longer a concern. While we may not realize it, there is an intricate system involved in getting your water to you that we are fortunate to have.

While most of the United States has access to clean water and proper wastewater management, much of the world does not. How would your day look if you had to walk a mile to get water and could only bring back as much as you could carry? Or if every sip you took, there was a chance of contracting disease? This is the unfortunate reality for many people. Worldwide, 26% of the population does not have safe drinking water, and an astounding 44% of household wastewater is not treated in a safe manner.

Clean water provides us with better health, food, cleanliness, and recreation. Take a minute this Thanksgiving and think about why you are thankful for water. Here is why our team is thankful!

"Water connects us all, beyond anything that sets us apart, though often taken for granted. For me magical water places bring solitude and are woven into many of my favorite memories." – Bradley Kunsman, Jr.

"I am thankful for water because it is necessary to make coffee and coffee is always a solution." – Genevieve Christ

"I'm thankful for how water connects our communities and people. Everyone has a different relationship with water, from anglers to paddlers to people on private well systems; water creates a common ground, bringing us together to appreciate and protect this resource in our communities." - Natalie Marioni

"I am thankful for water because it is essential to our lives, and I am grateful every single day that our governmental protections at the federal, state, and local levels ensure that simply turning on a faucet provides safe and affordable drinking water." – Beth Yount

"I am thankful that I grew up playing in streams with my siblings. These are happy core memories that are the likely roots of my career and strong relationship. Even today, I am thankful for the times I get to play in the stream with my kids." – Erin Trouba

References

United States Environmental Protection Agency. (2024, April 2). Statistics and Facts. EPA.

UN-Water. (2021, July). Summary Progress Update 2021: SDG 6 - water and sanitation for all.

Our World in Data team. (2023, July 18). Ensure access to water and sanitation for all.