The canal's locks are filled with fresh water to raise ships above sea level and allow them to sail across. Each time a ship passes through a lock, an average of 55 million gallons (190 million liters) of fresh water are drained into the sea.

Although the new locks in the expanded canal will be deeper and wider, officials say they will use 7 percent less water and will keep water in the canal using a series of specially designed basins.

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