Saving Water

We are being asked to reduce our consumption of water at home by not wasting it, such as letting the faucet run when brushing our teeth, or when washing our cars to turn off the water hose and not to use water to clean our driveways. I am all for this conservation effort. However, I do not hear of any governmental agency--local, state, or federal--asking that we reduce the amount of water we consume indirectly.

In “Diet for a New America,” author John Robins, states that “to produce one pound of meat takes an average of 2,500 gallons of water--as much as a typical family uses for all its combined household purposes in a month,” . . . “To produce a day’s food for one meat-eater takes over 4,000 gallons . . . for a pure vegetarian, only 300 gallons.” In addition, he states: “Over half the total amount of water consumed in the United States goes to irrigate land growing feed and fodder for livestock.”

Let’s not forget the water used in processing paper towels, paper napkins, and facial tissue. To really reduce the amount of water we consume, we will have to make some hard choices as to the foods we eat and the products we purchase and use as consumers

GEORGE S. DE METT

Fullerton