How Many Gallons of Water Does It Take to Make Almond Milk?

Unpacking the Hydration Hype: Making almond milk requires how many gallons of water?

Often given a green halo in the search for sustainable eating are plant-based milks. But if you have scrolled through social media or read a few headlines, you have probably seen almond milk chastised for its apparently massive water footprint. So, what is the truth actually? How many gallons does it really take to create that creamy, dairy-free substitute? Let’s get started.

The reality is that almond milk’s water use is a complex issue, yet when compared with its dairy equivalent, the image frequently surprises. Although it is accurate that almond trees need a great deal of water, mostly produced in the drier regions of California, commercial almond milk manufacture usually uses less water per glass than cow’s milk. Consider that some store-bought almond milk only contains a very tiny percentage of actual almonds, possibly as low as 2%. This implies that not the almond itself but rather water makes up the great bulk of the milk. Furthermore, almond trees help the environment by converting water into oxygen and hydrogen, free from dangerous biowaste, and they can access natural water sources including groundwater and rainwater that dairy cattle cannot.

Let’s now consider dairy milk from this viewpoint. Producing only one glass of cow’s milk can require anything from 54 to 67 gallons (about 200–255 liters) of water. Usually disregarded is a large part of this enormous number: the water utilized to raise the feed for milking cows. The total environmental impact of dairy farming becomes painfully clear once you take into account the enormous water footprint of growing feed crops, rearing cattle, and waste management. Highlighting the relative efficiency of plant-based choices, some comparisons even show water ratios of 70:1 or 315:1 for almond milk versus 1000:1 for dairy milk.

Thus, while no food production is without environmental impact, the story of almond milk’s water use requires context. Particularly given the total agricultural requirements of animal products, pouring a glass of almond milk usually implies selecting a product with a lesser general water footprint than conventional dairy milk. Informed choices involve going beyond basic headlines and appreciating the whole lifetime of what’s in our glass.

Sources:

https://ixwater.com/cow-almond-and-oat-milk-take-how-much-water https://www.theguardian.com/food/2018/sep/05/ditch-the-almond-milk-why-everything-you-know-about-sustainable-eating-is-probably-wrong https://veganstart.org/blog-almonds-and-water-use/

FAQs

How many gallons of water does it take to make almond milk?

Almond trees demand a great deal of water for growth, especially in semi-arid areas. Commercial almond milk production, however, typically uses less water per glass than cow’s milk.

Why does almond milk call for such a lot of water?

Particularly in semiarid areas like California, where irrigation is absolutely vital, almond trees demand a great deal of water for growth.

In terms of water consumption, how does the manufacture of almond milk match that of dairy milk?

Commercial almond milk manufacture usually uses less water per glass than cow’s milk production.

What actions are being taken to cut back almond production’s water use and that of almond milk?

Efforts involve research to create less water-intensive almond types, water recycling in processing, and efficient irrigation techniques (micro-irrigation, drip irrigation).