Figure 21.6: Domestic water use. ( 20 )developed countries use far less water than people in the United States. Globally, household
or personal water use is estimated to account for fifteen percent of world-wide water use.
Some household water uses are considered non-consumptive, because water is recaptured
in sewer systems, treated and returned to surface water supplies for reuse. Watering lawns
with sprinklers is an exception. Just like sprinkler irrigation on farms, yard sprinklers are
consumptive and use large amounts of water.
We all have many ways to lower the amount of water we use at home. Hardware stores sell
water-efficient home products, such as drip irrigation to water lawns and gardens, low flow
shower heads and low flow toilets. What other ways can you use less water at home?
Recreational Use
Figure21.7: RecreationalWater: Manyrecreationalactivities, suchasswimmingandfishing,
are non-consumptive water activities; which won’t deplete the water supply. ( 22 )
Which sports use water? Swimming, fishing, and boating are easy examples to think about
(Figure21.7). Do you think playing golf requires water? Actually it does, because we