Question

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.

Short answer

The families save 22,850,000 L of water overall.

Step-by-step solution

Calculate Yearly Savings per Family

First, add the amount of water saved by a family from all three conservation measures in a year. This is given by:\[2400 \, \text{L (leaky faucet)} + 82000 \, \text{L (toilet)} + 7000 \, \text{L (brushing teeth)}\]Calculate the total savings per family:\[2400 + 82000 + 7000 = 91400 \, \text{L/year}\]

Calculate Total Savings for 50 Families in One Year

Multiply the yearly savings per family by the number of families (50) to find the annual water savings for all families:\[91400 \, \text{L/family/year} \times 50 \, \text{families}\]This gives:\[91400 \times 50 = 4570000 \, \text{L/year}\]

Calculate Total Savings for 5 Years

Now, multiply the total savings for all families in one year by the number of years (5):\[4570000 \, \text{L/year} \times 5 \, \text{years}\]Calculate the total savings over 5 years:\[4570000 \times 5 = 22850000 \, \text{L}\]

Find Individual Measure Contribution for 50 Families Over 5 Years

For each conservation measure, calculate the total savings over 5 years for 50 families: 1. Leaky Faucet: \[2400 \, \text{L/year/family} \times 50 \, \text{families} \times 5 \, \text{years} = 600000 \, \text{L}\]2. Toilet:\[82000 \, \text{L/year/family} \times 50 \, \text{families} \times 5 \, \text{years} = 20500000 \, \text{L}\]3. Brushing Teeth:\[7000 \, \text{L/year/family} \times 50 \, \text{families} \times 5 \, \text{years} = 1750000 \, \text{L}\]

Graph the Results

Create a bar graph with three bars, each representing the total amount saved for each conservation measure over 5 years for 50 families: - Bar 1 (Leaky Faucet): 600,000 L - Bar 2 (Toilet): 20,500,000 L - Bar 3 (Brushing Teeth): 1,750,000 L Label the y-axis as 'Total Water Saved (L)', and the x-axis as 'Conservation Measures'. Highlight the contribution of each measure in total savings visually.

Key concepts

Leaky Faucet

A leaky faucet might seem like a minor inconvenience, but its impact on water conservation is significant. The constant dripping can waste a considerable amount of water over time. Imagine if a small drip falls every couple of seconds. This may not seem like much, but in total, it can add up to quite a bit of wasted water.

To put this into perspective, fixing a leaky faucet can save a household about 2,400 liters of water each year. This is enough water to fill more than 15 bathtubs! When you multiply this by 50 families over five years, the savings become substantial, reaching 600,000 liters.

By simply repairing these leaks, households can conserve water significantly. This not only helps in saving precious resources but can also reduce water bills, providing a financial incentive to repair leaky faucets.

Water Saving Toilets

Water saving toilets are a powerful tool in the fight for water conservation. Modern, efficient toilets use much less water per flush compared to older models. An old toilet can use up to 13 liters per flush, whereas water-saving toilets can use as little as 4.8 liters per flush.

Replacing an old toilet with a water-saving model allows a home to save roughly 82,000 liters annually. For 50 homes, this small change can conserve a staggering 20,500,000 liters over five years. This is by far the largest savings in the household water conservation measures.

• Significant water savings
• Reduces utility bills
• Environmentally friendly option

In many places, homeowners may receive rebates or financial incentives to help install water-saving toilets, making it an attractive and eco-friendly choice.

Water Conservation Education

Education on water conservation plays a vital role in changing habits and attitudes towards water usage. By understanding the importance of conserving water, individuals are more likely to take actions that lead to substantial savings. Informational campaigns, school programs, and community workshops can spread awareness about simple actions that have significant impacts, like fixing leaky faucets or installing water-saving toilets. Such educational programs emphasize:

• The environmental and economic benefits of conserving water
• Simple daily routines to reduce water usage
• Techniques for identifying and repairing water wastage sources

By educating communities, water conservation becomes a collective effort, fostering a culture of sustainability and responsibility towards environmental protection.

Environmental Science

Environmental science plays a crucial role in understanding and addressing water conservation challenges. It provides the necessary framework to study how human activities and natural processes impact water resources.

Through environmental science, we learn about the crucial balance of natural ecosystems and how activities like excessive water usage can disrupt these systems. This scientific knowledge helps in developing strategies for sustainable water management, such as:

• Implementing new water-saving technologies
• Designing policies to encourage conservation
• Developing models to predict water usage patterns and scarcity

Understanding the scientific aspects of environmental impacts allows us to create informed and effective conservation strategies, ensuring that water resources are protected for future generations. It reinforces why efforts like fixing leaky faucets or using water-saving toilets are essential within the larger context of environmental sustainability.