Ani Freedman writes for Fortune Well: I remember while studying abroad in Spain, locals used to tell me that they could always spot Americans because we were lugging our big reusable water bottles everywhere. I can’t remember a time when I was there that I didn’t have my 40-ounce Hydro Flask with me.
I am far from the only American preoccupied with drinking water. According to Our World in Data, the United States was the top consumer of municipal water (for drinking, cooking, and washing) until 2003 when China surpassed them. Still, Americans are holding onto second place and sit steadily above most other countries.
Compared to the European Union for example, U.S. adults are drinking an average of 57.5 ounces of water per day, while British adults are drinking an average of 33.8 ounces per day, according to polling from CivicScience reported by Newsweek.
So why do Americans seem to be guzzling water more than almost anyone else? Here are the factors driving the obsession.
