Climate shifts and population increases are putting pressure on America's water sources.

     Both are conspiring to cause record-setting droughts and unprecedented water shortages.

     Still, most Americans still realize that they can do something to protect and conserve water resources.

     We've all heard about "carbon footprints."  Now a new website called H2O Conserve wants us to consider out "water footprints.

     H2O Conserve is trying to drive-home the facts behind what they call our "1,000-plus gallon-a-day habit."

     Every aspect of our lives is connected to water, and we use it to make everything from electricity to food to household products.

     For example, it takes 24 gallons of water to make a single pound of plastic, and over a hundred gallons to make a pound of cotton.

     Even the electricity we use is tied to water - with power plants consuming 40 percent of our country's fresh water resources.

     The website's H2O Calculator takes all this into account, and after you answer a few questions it reveals just how much water your lifestyle requires. How much do you think you use? Well, the average American guzzles an astonishing 1,189.3 gallons per day according to the calculator's measure.

     After using the calculator, visitors are invited to learn more about our water system and water issues. It also provides tips for saving water at home.

     H2O Conserve was developed by a group of public interest organizations, including Food & Water Watch, the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility, GRACE, and the Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future.


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