How much does an acre-foot of water weigh?

An acre-foot of water is a measurement frequently used in water resource management, especially in agriculture and irrigation. It defines the volume of water that can cover one acre of land to a depth of one foot. To understand why the weight of an acre-foot of water is approximately 2.7 million pounds, consider the following:

One acre-foot corresponds to 43,560 cubic feet of water. Given that one cubic foot of water weighs about 62.4 pounds, you can calculate the total weight by multiplying the volume in cubic feet by the weight of one cubic foot. This multiplication yields:

43,560 cubic feet × 62.4 pounds per cubic foot = approximately 2,720,000 pounds.

This understanding clarifies that the weight of an acre-foot of water is around 2.7 million pounds, reflecting its substantial weight and importance in water resource calculations.