Chapter 21

In a year, a family can save \(2,400 \mathrm{~L}\) of water by fixing a leaky faucet, 82,000 L by replacing an old toilet, and 7,000 L by turning the water off while brushing their teeth. How much water would be saved if 50 families did these water conservation efforts for 5 years? Show your results in a bar graph showing the total amount saved for each conservation measure.

Communicate Explain what you personally can do to reduce air pollution.

List three ways air pollution can affect your health.

The United States Department of Commerce Census Bureau reported that construction rates raised 1.6 percent during the first five months of 2003 . How might this rate effect water pollution? What type of damages might be caused?

Recognize Cause and Effect Your community is downstream from a large metropolitan area. Explain why it might cost more money to produce clean drinking water for your community than a similar community upstream.

How did the old gasoline storage tanks at gas stations contribute to water pollution? How is this problem being solved?

Design and Perform an Experiment to test the effects of acid rain on vegetation. You might choose to use different types of vegetation as your variable and use acidity level as your constant or you might want to use the \(\mathrm{pH}\) of the solution as your variable and use the type of vegetation as your constant. Remember to test one variable at a time.

Letter to the Editor Survey your town for evidence of air and water pollution. Write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper communicating what you have observed. Include suggestions for reducing pollution.

Explain how sunny days and other conditions in the atmosphere can worsen air pollution and smog.

Travel Your family car travels 20 miles on one gallon of gas. You visit your friend who lives two miles away three times a week. Calculate how much gas you would save in five weeks if you walked or rode your bike to your friend's house. Estimate how much gas you would save in one year.