Show t AWATER WATER FACTS AND FANCIES How We Use Water An average American Camily family family fam Cam ily of oC four typically uses some gallons of drinking drinking drink drink- ing water every year But they drink barely one per percent percent percent cent of that amount Where does the rest go Mostly outdoors according to the American Water Works Association We pour clear clean drinking drinking drink drink- ing water on our lawns and gardens use it to wash our cars and even cven to hose grass clippings and leaves off the sidewalks DONT DON'T WASTE CLEAN WATER WA WA- Its TER TE TER R Its RIts its it's a valuable resource Although actual usage varies widely in different parts of or the country it averages averages aver aver- avers ages about 60 gallons of or drinking water per person per day reports Only a abit abit abit bit more than one half gallon is consumed Many people have asked why cities cant can't treat only the water that's actually used for drinking and cooking let the rest be untreated Wouldn't that save money And cut water bills Unfortunately not The t i Water Works Association points out that such a move would require installation of or an entire new distribution network o of pipelines costing billions and disrupting city streets for or years Besides despite warning labels or caution notices there could never be assurance assur assurance ance that someone might not drink from rom the untreated supply supply sup sup- ply by mistake Most communities have plenty of water for or their citizens But urges people everywhere to make a I daily dally effort to use this valuable valuable vatu able resource wisely and not waste it i |