Turn Off The Tap

Trey Smith

Anytime an area becomes excessively dry -- a moderate to severe drought -- people are encouraged and sometimes mandated to conserve water. A few years ago when Della and I lived in Salem, Oregon, we had a very dry year. When it came to summer, citizens only were allowed to water their lawns or gardens (no washing of vehicles!) on particular days and faced steep fines if they watered on a day not assigned to their neighborhood.

We also were encouraged not to flush our toilets as frequently as we might otherwise, to limit the amount of time bathing each day and to be ever cognizant of anytime we turned on a faucet in our houses.

I bet, since a good deal of Middle America is facing extreme drought this summer, the folks who live in states like Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, Colorado and Nebraska are being called upon to conserve water as much as possible.

While these measures are a good idea, according to a report from the Center of Investigative Reporting, they pale in comparison to the amount of water needed to raise beef in this country. They found that it takes about 1,800 gallons of water to produce a single pound of beef! By comparison, one pound of wheat -- which can feed a lot more people -- only takes about 180 gallons of water.

So, every time you bite into a juicy hamburger, just think about the amount of water you are claiming for yourself. While others in the impacted areas are flushing their toilets only once or twice per day, your desire for ground beef negates their sacrifices.

If you want to do something to help the beleaguered citizens in drought-stricken areas, why not skip a beef-ladened meal every once in a while. Your efforts in this regard could mean an extra two minutes in the shower for someone.