Source: Factory Farming Coalition Freshwater Use In addition to polluting the air and degrading natural lands, industrial animal agriculture uses an enormous amount of freshwater. In the US, it is responsible for 55 percent of water consumption, whereas domestic water use — the water used in households — makes up only 5 percent. Globally, factory farming uses 16 percent of the planet’s freshwater. Here’s another way to think about it: it takes about 2,500 gallons of water