Every year, during the first full week of May, BPU celebrates National Drinking Water Week. Our water is a
precious resource, and we’re proud to bring awareness to just how critical of a role drinking water plays
in our lives.
Here are a few fun and interesting facts about the water we drink, where it comes from, and how important it is
for residents of Wyandotte County – and the rest of the world!
BPU’s water is not taken from the Missouri River, but rather from an aquifer
that lies beneath the river and gets its water from melting ice from mountain ranges in Wyoming and
Montana.
Speaking of aquifers, the majority of the earth’s fresh water resides not on the surface of the earth,
but rather underground in a series of aquifers.
There are one million miles of water pipeline and aqueducts running throughout the United States and
Canada.
When drinking water is treated with fluoride (as BPU does to all of its water), it has been shown to prevent
at least 25% of cases of tooth decay in both children and adults.
40% of the freshwater removed from sources yearly in the United States is used for agriculture.
The average adult body is made up of about 60% water. This is why it’s so important to stay
hydrated!
Drinking sufficient water can lead to a reduced risk of cancer.
A steady water intake helps flush bacteria from the body and distribute nutrients to cells.
Health experts recommend the average person should drink 2 liters of water per day to maintain good
health.
A leaky faucet that drips once a second can waste over 2600 gallons of water per year.
It takes about 70 gallons of water to fill up the average bathtub. All the more reason to take short showers
to conserve water!
The average person in the U.S. uses 80-100 gallons of water per day (most of which is taken up by flushing
the toilet!)
For tips on how to better conserve water and energy,
view our BPU video tips!