Alabama Isn’t Drinking as Much Water as You Might Think

With the kind of heat Alabama deals with during the summer, you might assume folks around here are keeping a bottle of water close by. A new survey suggests we may need to do a little better.

Coventry Direct surveyed more than 2,500 Americans across 48 states to determine which states are drinking the most water, and Alabama ranked No. 29.

Get our free mobile app

Alabama residents reported drinking an average of 6.29 cups of water each day. For the survey, one cup was considered eight ounces, meaning Alabamians are drinking a little more than three standard 16-ounce bottles of water per day on average.

The good news? Alabama isn't far behind the rest of the country.

Americans overall reported drinking an average of 6.5 cups per day. According to the study, that's below both the familiar eight-cup benchmark and broader hydration recommendations that can begin around 11.5 cups, depending on factors including age, activity level and climate.

Nebraska topped the rankings at 7.56 cups per day, followed by Arizona, Pennsylvania, California and North Carolina.

Arkansas finished last among the states included, averaging just 5.12 cups.

The study also found that drinking more water may be less about access and more about simply remembering to do it. Nearly half of Americans surveyed, 46%, said forgetfulness prevents them from drinking more water. Another 38% said they don't feel thirsty, while 35% blamed being too busy.

That's something worth keeping in mind in Alabama, especially during hot and humid days when you're spending extended time outdoors.

So, Alabama, when was the last time you drank some water?