Worried about the Global Water Crisis? Stop Eating Meat

Perhaps you've spotted PETA supporters showering on the street, hiding behind a shower curtain that reads: "Clean Your Conscience: Go Vegan! 1 lb. of Meat Equals 6 Months of Showers."

There have been debates as to exactly how true this claim is, but PETA's overall point is valid. According to a 2010 report by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, animal agriculture accounts for over half of global freshwater consumption. Livestock operations are incredibly water intensive, not only because of water that animals drink, but because of the amount the animals indirectly consume through the crops raised for their food.

The U.N. report advised a global shift towards a plant-based diet in order to conserve water. The strain on limited freshwater resources will only worsen in coming years with increased world population and the effect from global warming.

Americans eat about a half-pound of meat a day on average, which is about ten billion animals per year. The amount of water estimated to produce one pound of beef varies from 435 gallons to 2,500 gallons.

Global production of meat continues to increase, and by the year 2050, demand for meat worldwide is expected to double. 2050 is also the year that freshwater is estimated to be scarce for 75 percent of the world's population. This growing appetite for meat is not sustainable. It will be devastating to our world's water supply. It will also mean more animals raised in intensive and cruel factory farming conditions.

As we face global water shortages, it is time we rethink how we use this precious resource. We all know to take shorter showers and to turn off the faucet while we brush our teeth, but it appears that the biggest way to cut down on water usage isn't in the bathroom; it's in the kitchen. If you go vegan or vegetarian, you'll save water by consuming plants directly.

An omnivore diet requires 4,200 gallons of water a day, a vegetarian diet takes 1,200 gallons and a vegan uses 300 gallons of water a day. I'll drink to that.

Photo Credit: dipfan