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As a person who has spent most of his life in the water, Michael Phelps feels strongly about the issues surrounding water. The most decorated Olympian in history is a prominent advocate for water safety and water conservation.

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An Olympic-sized swimming pool holds around 660,000 gallons of water. Throughout his swimming career, Phelps has traveled to six continents and over a dozen countries, participating in different international competitions. One thing he found in common was the importance of clean water.

Michael Phelps feels frustrated when people waste water

Since his retirement in 2016 following the Rio Olympics, Michael Phelps has taken on many philanthropic projects through the Michael Phelps Foundation. The charity focuses on water safety and healthy living. In 2018, he joined hands with Colgate as a global ambassador for their #EveryDropCounts campaign. 

Phelps talked about his frustrations with water wastage in an interview. He shared that he gets agitated whenever sees faucets open for no reason. “You know, whenever I hear water going off in my head, I’m literally trying to yell at the person, whoever is around me, to turn it off,” he shared.

Leaving the tap open for two minutes while we brush our teeth wastes up to 4 gallons of water. That’s about 64 glasses. When we account for the number of people doing that, the number adds up to a concerning degree. Simple tasks, like turning off the tap, are an effort that the swimmer thinks everyone can easily put in.

As a 23-time Olympic champion, crowned the greatest swimmer of all time, Michael Phelps has a huge platform. And he uses that platform to spread awareness about such issues. Notably, mental health, water safety, and water conservation have been the most prominent ones.

READ MORE: “I Think That It’s His Legacy”: Michael Phelps’ Wife Nicole Johnson Reveals How They Used to Handle Their Kids While Handling Mental Health

Phelps is adamant about the cause

Spending most of his time in the water for over 25 years made Phelps sensitive to the issue. “I’ve spent so much time around water, so for me, I knew the importance of conserving as much as possible,” he claimed.

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Phelps has three kids with his wife Nicole Johnson Phelps. Naturally, his fears for their quality of life further push his determination to rally for saving water. “For me, as a dad of three now, I want to do everything I can to give them the best chance to have the world as we have it,” he continued.

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As the #EveryDropCounts ambassador, Phelps helped introduce “three online docu-shorts called ‘Tales of Two Minutes’ that feature inspiring water conservation stories from people in California, Ohio, and Arizona.” His partnership with Colgate continued in 2019 as well. The swimmer’s passion for the cause can not be discounted. 

WATCH THIS STORY: Presidential Medal of Freedom Sparks Michael Phelps VS. Simone Biles Debate