Activity 3.3.1 Water Audit

Activity 3.3.1 Water Audit Introduction Water is a valuable resource. All of the water that we use in our homes comes from either a ground-water source, such as a well or cistern, or from a surface-water source, such as a river, lake, or reservoir. The average person uses 50 gallons of water per day. Water shortages are occurring in many parts of the world because of rising demand from growing populations, unequal distribution of useable freshwater, and pollution. We must all be aware of the water that we are using and learn ways to conserve water. By changing personal habits, such as not running the water while brushing teeth, people can save a lot of water. As much as half of the water used now for domestic purposes can be saved by practicing certain conservation techniques. Water can be saved in the bathroom by using low volume shower heads, taking shorter showers, stopping leaks, and by using low volume or waterless toilets. Toilet flushing is the largest domestic use of water. Each person uses 13,000 gal (50,000 liters) of drinking-quality water a year to flush toilets. Regulations in many areas now require water-saving toilets be used; an old toilet can conserve water by having a water-displacement device, such as a half-gallon milk jug filled with water or sand, placed in the storage tank. Special water-conserving appliances such as dishwashers and washing machines are now available that greatly reduce water consumption. Even drought-resistant plants are used for landscaping to reduce the amount of water necessary to keep lawns and plants green.

You can determine your average daily water use by using one of the following two methods:

Metered Water – If your water use is metered, review your water bill. Divide your water usage by the number of days in the billing period and also by the number of residents in your household. If your water is measured in cubic feet, convert to gallons by multiplying by 7.48.

Unmetered Water – If your water use is not metered, you must determine your water use for each fixture. Flow rates for showers and faucets can be measured by using a container to measure the amount of water discharged through the fitting in a minute (or in ten seconds and multiply by six to determine the flow for one minute). Toilet use per flush can be approximated by measuring the volume of water inside the toilet tank (width x length x height) and dividing by 231 (there are 231 cubic inches in a gallon of water). After you have determined the water use of each fixture, record the number of uses and the length of time each fixture is used to determine your average daily water use. Remember to estimate the amount of water used by appliances such as clothes washers and dishwashers as well as home water treatment systems.

Procedure With the help of an adult in your home, calculate how much water your family uses in a day and how much water you use each day. If your water is metered, compare your water use calculations to the water bill.

1. List all appliances that use water inside and outside of your home. Appliances/Fixtures Avg. number Amount of Gallons water Total water for of uses per time per usage used each this usage in day time 1 day Washing machine Dishwasher Refrigerator Toilet Shower Kitchen faucet Bathroom faucet Outdoor spigots

2. Calculate the total amount of water that your household uses in one day (add the total water used by each appliance).

3. Divide the total amount of water used by the number of people in your household to find the average amount of water each person uses.

© 2011 Project Lead The Way, Inc. PLTW Gateway – Energy and the Environment Activity 3.3.1 Water Audit – Page 2 4. If you have metered water, compare your results to the water bill. How much water does the water bill show that your household uses in a day?

Conclusion 1. Describe the method you used to calculate how many gallons of water was used each time someone in your home: a. Brushed their teeth

b. Took a shower

c. Used the washing machine

5. How does your family’s use of water compare to the average of 50 gallons per person?

6. Why is it important for people to be aware of how much water they are using?

7. Describe three ways that your family can conserve their water usage.

8. How does the amount of water used affect the amount of energy used?