Saving water

New figures highlighting the massive amount of water squandered in the average UK home (your report, 4 July) failed to
recognise the biggest water-wasting culprit of them all: meat.

Between watering the crops that farmed animals eat, providing billions of animals with drinking water each year and cleaning away the filth in farms, lorries and abattoirs, animal farming places a serious strain on our water supply. It takes more than 2,400 gallons of water to produce a pound of meat.

That means you can save more water by not eating a pound of beef than you would by not showering for six months.

In addition to being terrible for the environment, today’s factory farms cram intelligent animals by the thousands into dark, filthy cages or windowless sheds, where they are denied everything that makes life worth living.

The most logical way for us to conserve water – and put an end to the terrible cycle of abuse – is to kick our meat habit. By going vegan, we’ll be able to clean our bodies and clear our consciences.

Elisa Allen

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals

London