The Nature Conservancy. Protecting nature. Preserving life.™

The “water footprint” of the average American is 32,911 glasses per day. That’s according to a recent study by a Conservancy partner organization, the Water Footprint Network.

No wonder another recent report co-authored by Conservancy scientist Brian Richter has found that water scarcity affects about 2.7 billion people for at least one month each year. 

Where is all this water? It’s used to produce the food we eat, clothes we wear and more. And where does it come from? Nature. In fact, about 70 percent of the water extracted from rivers, lakes and aquifers is for agriculture. 

Thanks to our supporters, the Conservancy is working with partners to:

• Innovate scientific methodologies to track down “hidden” water.
• Help farmers to find new ways to grow crops while leaving more water available for people, plants and animals. (Example: one project in Georgia is helping farmers save 10 - 15 billion gallons of water a year.)
• Create a new global system for helping corporations and others understand their water impact and get practical guidance on reducing it. 

What You Can Do

• Get tips on how to save water. Some might surprise you.     
• Visit the Water Footprint Network’s website to learn more about your water footprint. 

Make a Difference with $20

There is no one way to solve a water problem so we get creative. Here’s the kind of difference that $20 can make:

• If one person donates: 20 trees (trees help keep water clean!)
• If just 25 people donate: a new small business that enables people to keep forests standing
• If just 50 people donate: A rainwater tank for a village in Papua New Guinea 

These are examples of our diverse projects around the world. Your support will enable us to do more to protect water for people, plants and animals.