Here is a link to a statistical table:

http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wasserpreis

It shows that private water consumption per capita is 295 liters in USA and 151 liters in France.

40% of private water consumption in USA is for watering lawns.

It's simply not true that they don't exist in the U.S. For sure in southern California and in Hawaii they are available, just as you describe.

I live in Florida and go to the beach all the time and there are showers at every single one of them.

Also, I was in Hawaii in December and I noticed them at the beaches there as well.

In Illinois our lake did not have one but the pool at the lake had one.

so... my only conclusion bkluvsNola is that you apparently have not frequented many US beaches of late. Because believe me, we too have showers at beaches. I think it's a salt water thing.

Now that I'm thinking on this topic... I can't think of a single public ocean beach in the U.S. that I've been to that (if that had any facilities at all i.e. restrooms) doesn't also provide a fresh water outdoor shower as well.

We're not "ruining" the planet. We're merely using it up!

<b>Use it once, throw it away. Now <u>that</u>'s convenience!</b>

Robespierre, now is that a nice attitude...?

I take it you don't have kids....

So I guess you will be long gone before the planet is so what the heck....

I guess it's an &quot;Enjoy it while you can attitude&quot;

Well, I don't have any kids. I will not purposely go about &quot;RUINING&quot; the planet but I am going to enjoy it !!!

Errr... wasn't he being ironic?

Just to add to the list of public beaches that DO have showers - Virginia Beach. And a good thing too, or all tht sand in my daughter's hair would have had to be washed down the drain at the hotel.

I could be wrong, but I don't think Robespierre is being serious.

For those who are not familiar with Florida or all of America for that matter,
you have to understand that the Panhandle of Florida, similarly to Texas, are - shall we say, &quot;different&quot; from the rest of the country - and they may not believe in taking many showers, at the beach or not.

:)

Of course I did not think he (Robespierre)was serious or at least I hoped he wasn't.

But then again neither was I....

Sometimes people can tend to be a little critical of one's remarks on these boards so one must be careful in their phrasing...guess I didn't do it well...sorry

I find Robespierre quite amusing, I know he is always good for a chuckle. Check out my other responses to his remarks in the past and you will see what I mean...

There are a few others I enjoy as well and am always looking for their posts to lighten my day.

Wow, I guess I pushed some people's buttons and riled them all up, huh?

Yes, I have seen showers in the US, but they were always located next to the pool and for guests of the hotel *only* to wash after going in the ocean. I have not seen the showers the way they are in France, around 5 feet from the water and available every 20 feet from each other.

Mahya2,

You write &quot;For those who are not familiar with Florida or all of America for that matter,
you have to understand that the Panhandle of Florida, similarly to Texas, are - shall we say, &quot;different&quot; from the rest of the country - and they may not believe in taking many showers, at the beach or not.&quot;

Um, I wouldn't be talking about Americans not taking showers. It's the Europeans who responded that they substitute a shower at the beach, which implies no shampoo or soap is used, for a real shower at the hotel, where shampoo and soap is used and you really get clean.

Judging from the BO of many of the people on the Riviera, it was they that needed a shower and not I.

Ask the average European how often they take a shower (not counting beach showers) and I doubt you'll get a response of &quot;every day&quot;. Ask almost any American and they almost all shower each and every single day, with shampoo and soap.

Also, even if you shower at the beach showers, your feet get sand on them the minute you put them back down as you are right on the sand. The outdoor hotel showers that are common in America are to prevent getting salt and sand in the pool and are only for paying guests only (as is the pool).

Areala,

&quot;my only conclusion bkluvsNola is that you apparently have not frequented many US beaches of late. Because believe me, we too have showers at beaches. I think it's a salt water thing.&quot;

Um, that is incorrect. I've visited California beaches (saw them there, but they were not on the beach but near the road and solely used at the end of the day, not after every time you go out of the water). I've visited Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Florida, Maryland, Delaware, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts beaches and I never recall seeing showers at any of them, except for the pool resorts which were unavailable to people not staying there.

I've been to the Caribbean (Aruba, Jamaica, St. Lucia), and I don't remember seeing showers there either. I've been to Spain and France beaches as well. I don't remember the showers in Spain, but they were common in France.

I did indulge and use the showers (as they say, when in Rome) but I found them unnecessary.

I do know that Americans waste far more water than Europeans, and Europeans always claim how much &quot;greener&quot; they are. That's why I was surprised by this style of waste in France.

If this offends anyone, then it must be due to the fact that they have just realized that it truly is a wasteful practice.

Here in Austin, our only beach (Hippie Hollow) does not have any showers...

Muck,

&quot;By the way, where do you think the rain comes from?&quot;

I think it all blows in on your hot air.

&gt;Ask the average European how often they take a shower (not counting beach showers) and I doubt you'll get a response of &quot;every day&quot;.

And you have surely concluded a poll to make this statement.

&quot;I've visited Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Florida, Maryland, Delaware, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts beaches and I never recall seeing showers at any of them, except for the pool resorts which were unavailable to people not staying there.&quot;

I live in Delaware and our public beaches all have free shower facilities.

Hilton Head has those exact same showers. The beaches I've visited in Delaware and MD have them as well.

I think they are a great public service. Who wants all that sand in your car.

&quot;I have not seen the showers the way they are in France, around 5 feet from the water and available every 20 feet from each other.&quot;

Then just think how lucky you were. You were able to count the number of times people showered and let us share this invaluable piece of information.
As to your comment on European body odors, I find it especially offensive and arrogant.

Pvoyageuse,

And I found the comments about Texans to be equally offensive.