Industrial use takes about 60% of water in rich countries and 10% in the rest. The difference in domestic use is much smaller, 11% and 8% respectively. Some of the variation is explained by capacious baths, power showers and flush lavatories in the rich world. All humans, however, need a basic minimum of two litres of water in food or drink each day, and for this there is no substitute. No one survived in the ruins of Port-au-Prince for more than a few days after January's earthquake unless they had access to some water-based food or drink. That is why many people in poor and arid countries—usually women or children—set off early each morning to trudge to the nearest well and return five or six hours later burdened with precious supplies. That is why many people believe water to be a human right, a necessity more basic than bread or a roof over the head.
在富裕的国家，工业用水约占60%，而在其余国家工业用水则占10%。家庭用水所占比例的差别要小得多，富裕的国家和其余国家分别为11%和8%。有些差别的原因是富裕的国家人们所使用的是大浴缸、电动淋浴设备以及抽水马桶。然而，所有的人每天都需要从食物或饮料中摄取至少两升的水，而这些水是没有其他替代品的。一月份海地太子港发生地震后，除非能得到含水的食品和饮料，否则没有人能在废墟中存活几天。那就是为什么在贫困和干旱的国家里许多人——通常是妇女和儿童——每天很早就出发，费力地走到最近的水井，五六个小时后才扛着宝贵的水回到家里。那也是为什么许多人认为水是一种人权，是比面包和头上的屋顶更为基本的必需品。