Where the Water Grows

Visualizing the water footprint of crops and foods harvested in California, on a human scale.

by Chukwuemeka Aligbe [Dezaïn]

California is suffering from a prolonged drought. With the state's water reserve estimated at one year, residents are being required to reduce their water usage by 25 percent. California's agricultural industry, which accounts for 80 percent of the state's water usage, has yet to have water restrictions imposed. Conserving water can go beyond not watering lawns. Looking into the water footprints of foods Americans eat that are grown in California, consumers and policy makers can make educated decisions to conserve water in the short- and long-term.

Below are a series of graphics illustrating how many gallons of water are used in growing one ounce in weight of a food commonly grown in California as cubes of equal volume. Use the dropdown to view a food, or touch the images to cycle through them.

Data from LA Times, Washington Post, Water Footprint Network. Inspired by Page Tutor: "What does one TRILLION dollars look like?"

 
 
Almonds

Almonds: 48.6 gallons per ounce, 1.87 x 1.87 x 1.87 ft box

 

Apple juice

Apple juice: 4.23 gallons per ounce, 0.83 x 0.83 x 0.83 ft box

 

Apples

Apples: 3.34 gallons per ounce, 0.76 x 0.76 x 0.76 ft box

 

Artichokes

Artichokes: 5.92 gallons per ounce, 0.92 x 0.92 x 0.92 ft box

 

Asparagus

Asparagus: 20.32 gallons per ounce, 1.4 x 1.4 x 1.4 ft box

 

Avocados

Avocados: 9.05 gallons per ounce, 1.07 x 1.07 x 1.07 ft box

 

Bananas

Bananas: 5.71 gallons per ounce, 0.91 x 0.91 x 0.91 ft box

 

Beef

Beef: 106.28 gallons per ounce, 2.42 x 2.42 x 2.42 ft box

 

Blackberries

Blackberries: 4.22 gallons per ounce, 0.83 x 0.83 x 0.83 ft box

 

Broccoli

Broccoli: 2.44 gallons per ounce, 0.69 x 0.69 x 0.69 ft box

 

Chicken

Chicken: 16.61 gallons per ounce, 1.3 x 1.3 x 1.3 ft box

 

Chickpeas

Chickpeas: 76.07 gallons per ounce, 2.17 x 2.17 x 2.17 ft box

 

Eggs

Eggs: 11.73 gallons per ounce, 1.16 x 1.16 x 1.16 ft box

 

Goat

Goat: 41.35 gallons per ounce, 1.77 x 1.77 x 1.77 ft box

 

Grapes

Grapes: 3.12 gallons per ounce, 0.75 x 0.75 x 0.75 ft box

 

Lamb

Lamb: 84.68 gallons per ounce, 2.25 x 2.25 x 2.25 ft box

 

Lentils

Lentils: 71.28 gallons per ounce, 2.12 x 2.12 x 2.12 ft box

 

Lettuce

Lettuce: 0.85 gallons per ounce, 0.48 x 0.48 x 0.48 ft box

 

Mangoes

Mangoes: 28.5 gallons per ounce, 1.56 x 1.56 x 1.56 ft box

 

Milk

Milk: 5.48 gallons per ounce, 0.9 x 0.9 x 0.9 ft box

 

Okra

Okra: 7.76 gallons per ounce, 1.01 x 1.01 x 1.01 ft box

 

Onions

Onions: 1.19 gallons per ounce, 0.54 x 0.54 x 0.54 ft box

 

Orange juice

Orange juice: 4.11 gallons per ounce, 0.82 x 0.82 x 0.82 ft box

 

Oranges

Oranges: 2.48 gallons per ounce, 0.69 x 0.69 x 0.69 ft box

 

Pasta

Pasta: 16.6 gallons per ounce, 1.3 x 1.3 x 1.3 ft box

 

Peaches

Peaches: 4.69 gallons per ounce, 0.86 x 0.86 x 0.86 ft box

 

Pear

Pear: 2.7 gallons per ounce, 0.71 x 0.71 x 0.71 ft box

 

Peas

Peas: 44.53 gallons per ounce, 1.81 x 1.81 x 1.81 ft box

 

Pineapples

Pineapples: 1.4 gallons per ounce, 0.57 x 0.57 x 0.57 ft box

 

Pistachios

Pistachios: 25.5 gallons per ounce, 1.51 x 1.51 x 1.51 ft box

 

Pork

Pork: 41.25 gallons per ounce, 1.77 x 1.77 x 1.77 ft box

 

Potatoes

Potatoes: 2.98 gallons per ounce, 0.74 x 0.74 x 0.74 ft box

 

Rice

Rice: 16.26 gallons per ounce, 1.3 x 1.3 x 1.3 ft box

 

Soy burger

Soy burger: 21.84 gallons per ounce, 1.43 x 1.43 x 1.43 ft box

 

Soy milk

Soy milk: 2.05 gallons per ounce, 0.65 x 0.65 x 0.65 ft box

 

Strawberries

Strawberries: 1.24 gallons per ounce, 0.55 x 0.55 x 0.55 ft box

 

Tomatoes

Tomatoes: 0.95 gallons per ounce, 0.5 x 0.5 x 0.5 ft box

 

Walnuts

Walnuts: 50.3 gallons per ounce, 1.89 x 1.89 x 1.89 ft box

 

Watermelon

Watermelon: 1.79 gallons per ounce, 0.62 x 0.62 x 0.62 ft box

 

Wheat bread

Wheat bread: 14.44 gallons per ounce, 1.25 x 1.25 x 1.25 ft box

 

Wine

Wine: 3.48 gallons per ounce, 0.77 x 0.77 x 0.77 ft box

 

Sources: