Living in Utah, the 2nd driest state in the U.S., means that we think a lot about water conservation. Responsibly managing our water use is essential to the longevity of the Wasatch Back, which nearly 90,000 people call home. Common water uses include agriculture, lawns, and industrial and commercial users–but what are some of the hidden water uses we see in our daily lives? 

Almost every product we purchase requires water in its production, some far more than others. For example, the average pair of jeans requires between 3,000 and 4,000 liters of water to make, as reported by the UN Environmental Programme. For the example of jeans, this water is typically consumed during the growing of the cotton for the jeans. We do not see or inherently think about water being a requirement for our jeans–or our burgers–but any time we grow a product (or raise an animal), we see significant water consumption going into the earliest stages of production. Some plants or animals require significantly less water than others, which is why we see products emerging made of less water-intensive crops, such as bamboo. 

We also see significant hidden water use in many of our electronics and other products, which require specialized metals. The average smartphone in 2025 requires roughly 12,000 to 13,000 liters of water throughout its production. This water is primarily consumed through the mining of raw materials, where ore is rinsed extensively throughout the production process. This produces wastewater, which can be highly toxic and dangerous to the natural environment, and must be diluted or cleaned before being returned to the water stream. Sometimes the water used for mining is greywater to begin with, being diverted from local residential wastewater streams, which allows for a less energy-intensive process. 

These are just some of the examples of ways our waterfootprint can grow significantly behind closed doors. In general, whenever you are purchasing something made of a virgin material (especially a rare metal), you can be certain it came with a high water tax. Purchasing second-hand is one of the best ways to lower your water tax, as well as your general carbon and environmental footprint! The website watercalculator.org provides a great tool to calculate your personal water footprint, as well as some recommendations on how to cut down on superficial and hidden water use.

By Mia Moore