Chapter 6. Environment & You

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.

Question 6.1

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