A Little Photoessay… Water Runs Through Every Place I’ve Visited

Last updated on August 2, 2025 by Shannon

Water runs through all of us, and all over the world. It’s impossible to fully grasp the importance of water on our lives. In honor of the importance of water—and of World Water Day on March 22nd—I offer a photo essay on the importance of water to my travels.

It’s a looks at the most beautiful places I have visited. The people affected by water and how it impacts their lives.

Call it an ode to water.

First, World Water Facts

• The world has made significant progress in increasing access to clean water. In 2015, 91% of the world’s population had access to an improved drinking water source, up from 76% in 1990.
• About 2.2 billion people around the world still lack access to safe drinking water, which can lead to a host of health problems and even death.
• The average American uses about 80-100 gallons of water per day, while the average person in sub-Saharan Africa uses only 2-5 gallons per day.
• We drink between 2-3 liters of water per day, but the average person uses about 3,800 liters of water per day when considering water used in food production, personal hygiene, and other household activities.
• Agriculture is the largest consumer of water worldwide, but there are more efficient irrigation methods available that can help reduce water usage while maintaining crop yields.
• Water conservation efforts, such as using low-flow toilets and showerheads, have been successful in reducing water usage in many regions.
• The water crisis is not just limited to developing countries. In the United States, for example, many areas are experiencing water shortages and droughts—the Colorado River is currently in crisis.
• The fashion industry is a major contributor to water pollution, as the manufacturing process for textiles involves the use of chemicals and large amounts of water.
• It takes about 2,000 to 5,000 liters of water to produce one kilogram of rice, about 15,000 liters to produce one kilogram of beef, and producing one kilogram of chicken or pork takes around 4,300 and 6,000 liters of water, respectively.
• The energy sector is the world’s largest water consumer—it uses water for cooling power plants and extracting and refining oil and gas.
• Many major cities around the world, including Cape Town and São Paulo, have experienced water crises in recent years due to a combination of factors such as drought and poor water management.
• Reducing the amount of food waste you generate is one of the easiest ways to reduce your water consumption. It is estimated that 25% of the world’s fresh water supply is used to produce food that is eventually wasted, so by wasting less food, you are also wasting less water.

What is World Water Day?

World Water Day is an annual event observed on March 22nd that aims to raise awareness about the importance of water and advocate for sustainable management of freshwater resources. The day serves as an opportunity to promote actions to address water-related challenges such as access to safe drinking water, water scarcity, water pollution, and climate change impacts on water resources. World Water Day is important because water is essential for life, and its sustainable management is crucial for achieving sustainable development and ensuring that future generations have access to clean water.

Stories of Water in Honor of World Water Day

It wasn’t until I left the confines of the United States that I began to witness the wealth and resource disparity present on our planet. And by disparities, I mean disparities in all terms of wealth. After traveling, I began to appreciate my education more because I saw how hard so many others worked for theirs. My food was plentiful, and I never knew hunger. I had a shower every night, and clean tap water flowing out of my faucet. I spent summers running through my sprinklers, then cooling off with a glass of lemonade flavored Kool-Aid.

I never knew how much I had at my disposal. Water is a shared resource, and though renewable, clean water is increasingly taxed out by our usage.

Thank you for reading this far about the waters I’ve seen throughout my years of traveling. As part of World Water Day, I’d like to end by noting that the two easiest ways to help the global water shortages are to conserve water usage and eliminate food waste. I am particularly conscious of my food and water use this week as I consider how personal choices affect the planet as a whole.

Cheers,

~S