Category: Water

Do we use more water for toilet or shower?

Grade level:  5 – 6th grades

Skills: Circle graphs

Related environmental issues: Water

The circle graph below shows how the average American family uses water at home.

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1. For what purposes does the average American family use the most water?

2. For what purposes does the average American family use more water, shower or washing machine?

3. The average American family uses 300 gallons of water a day. How many gallons of water does the average American family use for shower?

4. The average American family loses a lot of water to leaky toilets, appliances and faucets. What percentage of water is wasted through leaks?

5. How many gallons of water does the average American family lose through leaks a day?

Sources: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2018. How We Use Water

To find and fix water leaks, visit here (Water Footprint, 2018. Indoor Water Leaks)

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Answer keys

  1. Toilet
  2. Shower
  3. 300 x 0.2 = 60 (gallons)
  4. 100 – 24 – 20 – 19 – 17 – 8 = 12 (%)
  5. 300 x 0.12 = 36 (gallons)

Why do we use more water in summer than in winter?

Grade level:  3rd – 5th grades

Skills: Line graphs

Related environmental issues: Water

The line graph below shows the average daily household water use per person in California in 2016.

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  1. In what season did a person in California use the largest amount of water?
  2. On average, a person in California used 85 gallons of water per day in 2016. In what months, did average Californians use about 85 gallons of water per day?
  3. In which month did a person in California use less amount of water per day, January or December?
  4. Between which two consecutive months did average water use increase the most?
  5. People use the largest amount of water in July and August in most of the states. Why do you think more household water is needed in those months?  Select all of the answers that apply. A) Rising outdoor water use for lawn and landscape watering B) Running the water to avoid freezing water pipes C) Increasing water use for outdoor water activities

 

Sources: California Water Boards, 2017. Fact Sheet (February 8, 2017)

 

Answer keys

  1. summer
  2. May
  3. January
  4. May and June
  5. A and C