1. 6th Annual Water Awareness Poster Contest:
“Water & Life:
…Animals & People.”

2. Q: How long can different animals survive
Let’s talk water…..
Every living thing on the planet needs water.
Q: How long can different animals survive
without a drink?
Q: How about you? How much water do you need?
Where does it come from?

3. Let’s look at some animals…..
Q: How much water does a kangaroo rat drink in a year?
A: NONE! Kangaroo rats never, ever need to drink water! With bodies and lifestyles perfectly adapted to the desert, they can get all the water they need from their food…

4. Let’s look at some animals…..
Q: How about an elephant?
A: An adult elephant needs about 50 gallons each day! That’s over 18,000 gallons per year!!!
Elephant herds must migrate miles and miles to find enough water for their thirst….

5. EXTREME SURVIVOR!!! A tiny organism called a tardigrade
(“water bear, moss piglet”)
can survive for 10 years or more without eating OR drinking!!!
(Although they only achieve this feat by going into a state of ‘suspended animation’, curling up and resting until water returns…)
Willow Gabriel and Bob Goldstein,
See more here:

6. a few days without water…
On the other hand, humans can only survive
a few days without water…
In fact, water is SO IMPORTANT to the proper functioning of our bodies that even after a few hours, you can begin to see signs of DEHYDRATION – or the lack of water!
DID YOU KNOW? One of the 1st early signs of dehydration is….
GRUMPINESS!
That’s right - grumpiness can be a sign that your body NEEDS water! Amazingly, scientists estimate that about 75% of Americans are in a near-constant, low-level state of dehydration!!!
That’s a LOT of grumpy people...

7. a few days without water…
On the other hand, humans can only survive
a few days without water…
In fact, water is SO IMPORTANT to the proper functioning of our bodies that even after a few hours, you can begin to see signs of DEHYDRATION – or the lack of water!
DID YOU KNOW? One of the 1st early signs of dehydration is….
GRUMPINESS!
Other signs include:
Thirst
Dry mouth
Tiredness
Dizziness
Headache
Less frequent/darker urine

8. Did you know? Like a kangaroo rat, you can EAT some of your water!
Most fruits and veggies contain a LOT of water…
What’s your favorite way to EAT WATER?

9. We can’t just drink ANY water.
We need safe, clean drinking water.
Water can contain:
Germs that can make us sick…
Dirt + algae…
Pollutants like metals, minerals,
nutrients, and chemicals…
That’s where your utilities come in!!
At a water treatment plant, water is cleaned, then pumped through underground pipes…..right to your tap!
Would you drink that? 

10. So, we ALL
need safe, clean, fresh water …

11. …and we only have this
much to share.

12. Here’s one way you can help!
SHARE what you’ve learned!
Draw a poster showing your favorite
water fact or tip…
…or continue on to the next section
to learn more!
For more information, learning activities, and contest information, please visit: