Water over a lifetime

“35 tonnes over a lifetime” is not a universal average: the result depends on lifespan, climate, activity, and whether one counts beverages alone or also water in food. It works as an illustrative scenario: 1.5 L of beverages a day for 64 years is about 35,000 L, or roughly 35 tonnes. By comparison, 2 L a day for 70 years is about 51 tonnes. The U.S. National Academies give separate adequate-intake reference values for total water from all beverages and foods, which vary by sex and are not a fixed requirement for every individual. [1–3]