Clean fresh water is essential to life. You and your family can survive for several days without food, but only a short time without water. Water is a nonrenewable resource, meaning we can’t make any more when it runs out. We only have as much water today as we will in the future. The U.S. population is steadily increasing and putting greater demands on clean drinking water. To meet the water needs of future generations, we need to use water wisely.