Water has very high surface tension. That's why water bugs can walk on it. Only ammonia absorbs heat better than water. It is the only common substance that exists as a liquid at normal temperatures. It freezes at 32 degrees and boils at 212 degrees F. Human Use Demand for freshwater by humans is expected to double between 1989 and the year 2000.
Factories use more water than any other material.
Per capita use of water in the United States is about 1,600 gallons per person per day. America has more faucets and toilets than any other country. Flushing a toilet uses about three gallons of water. It takes about 150 gallons of water to produce a newspaper. In the United States, water costs about 45 cents per 1,000 gallons.