How Much Water Does My Family Use?
And How Much Does It Cost?
OBJECTIVE
The supply of water seems to be endless. Every time we turn on the tap we get water. In some places this is not always the case. By completing this activity, you'll be amazed to find out how much water your family actually uses. Also, you may discover that you can save money by identifying ways in which you're wasting water.
WATER USAGE
| ACTIVITY |
|
AMOUNT |
| Bath |
|
25 gallons |
| Dishwasher |
|
14 gallons |
| Fire Hydrant |
|
1,000 gallons per minute (fully opened) |
| Flushing the Toilet |
|
5 gallons per flush |
| Lawn Watering |
|
10 gallons per minute |
| Leaky Faucet |
|
15 gallons of water per day |
| Shower |
|
10 gallons per minute |
| Washing Machine |
|
40 gallons per load
|
STEP 1
Calculate how much water is used in your home for showers, using the chart above.
You need to calculate the following:
| ___________ |
|
X |
|
___________ |
|
= |
|
___________ |
| the number of showers per week |
|
X |
|
the average minutes per shower |
|
= |
|
showering minutes per week |
| |
| ___________ |
|
X |
|
___________ |
|
= |
|
___________ |
| showering minutes per week |
|
X |
|
gallons per minute used showering |
|
= |
|
total gallons used per week for showers |
STEP 2
Calculate how much water is used in your home for showers, using the chart above.
| Gallons Used in a Week |
| Activity |
|
Times per
Week |
|
Gallons Used per
Activity |
|
Total Gallons
Used |
| Dishwasher |
|
_________ |
|
_________ |
|
_________ |
Flushing the
Toilet |
|
_________ |
|
_________ |
|
_________ |
| Taking a Bath |
|
_________ |
|
_________ |
|
_________ |
| Lawn Watering |
|
_________ |
|
_________ |
|
_________ |
| Doing Laundry |
|
_________ |
|
_________ |
|
_________ |
| Car Washing |
|
_________ |
|
_________ |
|
_________ |
| Showers |
|
The total gallons used for showers can be
obtained from the results in step 1. |
|
_________ |
| |
Total Usage |
|
_________ |
STEP 3
Assume the cost per gallon of water is 1¢
Based on that price, hwo much money does your family spend for water in one week?
| ___________ |
|
X |
|
___________ |
|
= |
|
___________ |
| gallons used per week |
|
X |
|
1¢ |
|
= |
|
cost of water for one week |
Based on the result above, how much money does your family spend for water in one month? __________
Based on the result above, how much money does your family spend for water in one year? __________
STEP 4
Assume you have aleaky faucet in your kitchen. If the faucet leaks for two weeks, how much water would be wasted?
| ___________ |
|
X |
|
___________ |
|
= |
|
___________ |
| gallons wasted per day |
|
X |
|
number of days |
|
= |
|
number of gallons wasted |
STEP 5
Again assume that one hot July day, without permission from the fire department, your friend decides to fully open a fire hydrant. The fire hydrant is opened from 2:00 pm to 2:45 p.m.
How much water did your friend waste?
| ___________ |
|
X |
|
___________ |
|
= |
|
___________ |
| gallons per minute when fully opened |
|
X |
|
number of minutes |
|
= |
|
number of gallons wasted |
STEP 6
Now let's look at the bigger picture by answering the following questions.
- How would your life be affected if you turned on the faucet and no water came out?
- What states in the United States have water shortages and why?
- Name three countries that have a shortage of water. How are they resolving the problem? Where did you find your information?
|
