Student Water Use

On average we used 209 liters or 55 gallons of water per day, per student. Amazingly only about 5% of our use was for consumption (cooking and drinking), while 45% was for bathing. Even so you only averaged 10 minutes of shower time per day. 

If we were to add irrigation the numbers would soar! One inch of water on 1,000 sq ft of lawn equals 623 gallons (that’s 2,358 liters). So how many square feet of lawn do you have and how many times per week do you water? It is easy to see how that 55 gallons per person can easily become 120-150 gallons per day. Irrigation is often 45-75% of our water use.

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Rain Water Collection

As part of our studies on the hydrosphere we’re trying to determine the amount (volume) of rain water that could be collected from the roof of our classroom building. So far students determined the average annual rainfall received in Winter Garden and the dimensions of the 400 building (see the gallery for pictures).

The challenge that remains is how to convert those measurements into typical units of volume (gallons or liters). Of course this might be complicated by having a mix of metric and standard measures (i.e. rainfall in inches and building dimensions in meters).

Looking for some extra credit? Then take this exercise one step further.

If the rate of rainfall is 1.5 inches per hour and it rains for 1/2 hour, how many 220 liter rain barrels will be required to collect all the run-off from the 400 building roof.

Submit your answer on a separate sheet of paper, showing all your calculations. Be sure to have your name (first and last), the date and period at the top of your paper and underline your answer. Turn in no later than Wednesday 9/26.

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A Dire Shortage of Water

If it were up to me, the weather would be hot and sunny every day.

Good thing it’s not up to me. Earth needs rain and snow.

Without a reliable supply of water, we would have nothing to drink, nothing to sustain our crops. Swimming pools would be empty. Lawns would have no grass. Electricity would be expensive. Plants would die; animals would follow.

During a drought, wetlands such as this area in Colorado could disappear, threatening the lives of many animals.

During a drought, wetlands such as this area in Colorado could disappear, threatening the lives of many animals.

Robert Sanders, Ducks Unlimited/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Such a water shortage may sound extreme, but it’s happening right now in parts of the western United States. An area called the…. (more)

By Emily Sohn
Science News For Kids

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