Brita Pro® of Central Florida

Water Facts

How much water does a typical American family consume?

According to the EPA, the average American family uses more than 300 gallons of water per day, which adds up to 109,500 gallons in one year.

Why is water so important to human health?

Water represents approximately 60 percent of a human’s body weight. Water is integral to every bodily function, from the individual cell to system levels — the respiratory, circulatory, nervous, digestive and other systems all need an adequate supply of water to function properly.

How much water should my family drink for optimal health?

The Mayo Clinic says that adequate daily fluid intake for men is about 15.5 cups (3.7 liters) and 11.5 cups (2.7 liters) for women. A common recommendation for all individuals is eight glasses of water per day. Factors influencing human requirements include exercise, environment, and overall state of health.

It’s hard to get my kids to drink water. How do I get them to drink more?

Suggestions from Children’s Hospital Colorado include:

Use frozen fruit in place of ice cubes, or add fruit to ice cube trays before freezing.
Add fruit such as berries, lemons, limes, or cucumber slices to the water itself.
Add a fun straw to the experience, such as a colorful curved straw, a mustache straw, or other creative designs.
Carry a water bottle on outings, and put one in your child’s school backpack.
Set up a reward system, such as awarding a sticker or doing a silly dance when your child returns an empty water glass or bottle.
Set a good example. Let your child see you drinking water.