Drowning in a Water Deficit
Backstory: Individuals in the United States use more water each day than people in any other country. The reasons for this may be manifold, from climate-specific needs, such as watering a lawn in hot, dry climates, to simply being unaware of personal usage. In parts of the United States, such as California, extreme deficits of water have had far-reaching impacts on agriculture, industry, and personal availability. With expected shifts in precipitation due to climate change, regions that in the past may have had little concern about freshwater sustainability are experiencing a growing concern over long-term water availability and water rights. As populations worldwide continue to grow, greater importance will be placed on water conservation and protection of freshwater systems. It is becoming increasingly important that each individual take a more conservative approach to water usage.
Activity: How much water do you use each day? Does it vary throughout a given week? Do you live in an area where seasonality may play a role in water usage? These are questions that are important in establishing a baseline at the local or regional scales to better understand the longevities of freshwater. Your task in this activity is to determine your own daily and weekly usage of water. Using the weekly schedule below, approximate the quantities of water you use for each of the items listed in the left column of the table. You may have to use your percentage of total usage by all persons in the home. Use the average gallons multiplied by the number of uses or flushes for each day. Then address the following questions.
| M | T | W | TH | F | SAT | SUN | |
| TOILET (3 gallons per flush) | |||||||
| SHOWER (2.1 gallons per minute) | |||||||
| KITCHEN AND COOKING (estimate in gallons) | |||||||
| DISHWASHER (5 gallons per load) | |||||||
| CLOTHES WASHER (3 gallons per preson per load) | |||||||
| TOTALS |
What is your total use per day? Did you use the same amount each day? What were your total gallons used per week?
Did your results surprise you? How do they compare with your classmates? What was the total for your entire class per week?
Now look up the population of your town or city. Assuming that everyone uses approximately the same amount of water each week, multiply your total by the population total. Do these numbers surprise you?
What do you use the most water for? What could you change about your usage to decrease the amount used per week?
The average amounts given in the table reflect older and newer standards. Are any of your appliances or toilets newer or older and listed at a smaller or larger amount?
Activity results are being submitted...