Drinking water
How many liters of fluids should you take in each day? A somewhat personalized approach suggests approximately 28ml of fluids per kg of body weight. That’s one ounce of water for every two pounds of body weight in US units. The food we eat often contains a substantial amount of water, so this target is for the total fluid daily intake, not for drinking alone.
A 70kg person would aim for around 2.2 liters of fluids (150 pounds body weight requires at least 75 ounces of fluids) from drinking and food. This target will increase with physical activity, hot weather, or illness.
Your body uses water to:
- Get rid of wastes through urination, perspiration and bowel movements
- Keep your temperature normal
- Lubricate and cushion joints
- Protect sensitive tissues
The average person can survive about three to five days without water.
Water sources
For most, getting water is simply a matter of using the tap. Modern fancy kitchens these days often have an endless supply of chilled water from their refrigerator.
Visit any supermarket and the drink alley will offer a bewildering variety of (sugar) water, healthy and otherwise. There are even small outlets that just sell water, often in the form of tap that you use to fill your containers.
Without fail, these sources are more expensive than what you pay for a domestic water supply. If you find yourselves without a home and limited financial resources, getting water becomes one of the daily chores that can’t be skipped. A small minority finds themselves in that situation and use public restrooms or public water fountains. Both of these are sometimes within easy reach in some locales or impossible to find in another location. Keeping track of sources of water becomes essential.
A truck full of water
Some companies, including especially workplaces and restaurants, buy water from a company that delivers water and other drinks. Their drivers deliver full containers - taking in the empty containers - on a regular schedule. The quality is often touted as being higher than what you get from the tap. There are locations in the US where the water quality is not meeting standards and the whole population uses water delivery in the form of the gallon containers.
One such water delivery driver has made a pact with a couple that does not have the luxury of easy access to tap water. Twice a week the truck makes a small detour. A carefully selected parking lot and time of day is agreed. The driver drops off a 35 liter (almost 10 gallons) container with water that is sourced from the driver’s home tap and picks up the empty container.
Making friends with a generous water delivery truck driver makes life a little smoother.