Average Water Consumption for Producing Food Products
| Food product . | Water consumption (gal/lb) . |
|---|---|
| Rice | 356 |
| Wheat | 160 |
| Corn | 109 |
| Soybeans | 214 |
| Sugar cane | 21 |
| Eggs | 400 |
| Milk | 119 |
| Cheese | 589 |
| Beef | 1857 |
| Pork | 582 |
| Sheep | 736 |
| Chicken | 469 |
| Food product . | Water consumption (gal/lb) . |
|---|---|
| Rice | 356 |
| Wheat | 160 |
| Corn | 109 |
| Soybeans | 214 |
| Sugar cane | 21 |
| Eggs | 400 |
| Milk | 119 |
| Cheese | 589 |
| Beef | 1857 |
| Pork | 582 |
| Sheep | 736 |
| Chicken | 469 |
Average consumption incorporates often substantial regional differences due to climate and management. Source: Arjen Y. Hoekstra and Ashok K. Chapagain, “Water Footprints of Nations: Water Use by People as a Function of Their Consumption Pattern,” Water Resources Management 21 (2007): 35–48.