Introduction
Georgia shares its sources of fresh water with other states. In the past both Alabama and Florida have filed water usage lawsuits against the state of Georgia citing unfair water consumption in metro Atlanta. Both states claim that the unfair water consumption affects the residents and economy south of the Atlanta area. Georgia is now going through a drought and therefore must reduce their use of water. The Governor of Georgia is being proactive with water reduction to prevent another lawsuit with these states.
Task
Challenge: Due to population increases in the state, the Governor has informed the public through a public service announcement that the state must consider alternative fresh water production methods and water conservation. Methods could include: desalination, cloud seeding, and conservation. You will give evidence to justify your solution to Georgia’s fresh water crisis.
Math Challenge: If the method used is water conservation, the Governor suggests a 25 percent or ¼ water usage reduction. This would require each family to reduce their use of water by 25 percent or ¼ . Your challenge is to first figure out how much water your family currently uses in a 5 day period. Then, you must figure out how you will reduce your family’s water usage to meet the reduction requirements.
Criteria/Constraints:
Part 1: Unit Rates of Water Usage
You will determine the unit rate of water flow in gallons per minute for the shower and bathtub in your home. In class we will investigate and determine the unit rate for the amount of water used while brushing your teeth.
Part 2: Data Collection
Using an Excel spread sheet, display the data for how many times per day someone living in your home does different water consumption activities for five days. You will determine the total amount of water your family consumes, the average daily amount your family consumes, and the average individual daily water consumption.
Part 3: Solutions
You will calculate the amount of water needed to meet the water reduction criteria. Then research areas in which you can conserve water to meet the goal. You must conserve water in a minimum of three areas. Explain how these choices reduce water consumption.
Part 4: Data Conservation Plan
Using an Excel spread sheet, display the data for how many times per day someone living in your home does different water consumption activities for five days under your proposed plan. You will determine the total amount of water your family consumes, the average daily amount your family consumes, and the average individual daily water consumption. Your total water consumption must meet the 25 percent reduction in each category.
Part 5: Final Report
Write a paragraph that details how you will conserve water, why it will work, and how it could affect the state’s water usage. Use your data and research as supporting evidence.
Process
Part 1: Unit Rates of Water Usage
The following investigations will help you to determine the amount of water your family uses for typical activities in your home. The information gathered in the investigations will be recorded in the Part 2 spread sheet for water usage.
In School Investigation
In class we will investigate and determine the unit rate for the amount of water used while brushing your teeth. There are two methods to investigate; continuous water running and turning the water off while brushing.
Teeth Brushing Water Units- How much water is used when we brush our teeth for two minutes?
- Use the table below to record your information and calculate the unit rates
- Use Solo cups (each holds _____cups of water) to determine the amount of water gathered while brushing your teeth when the water continues to run. Round to the nearest ½ cup.
- Use Solo cups (each holds _____ cups of water) to determine the amount of water gathered while brushing your teeth when you turn the water off while brushing. Round to the nearest ½ cup.
- Using measuring cups to determine the number of cups each solo cup holds. Round to the nearest ½ cup.
- Using measuring cups determine the number of cups in a gallon.
At Home Investigation
You will determine the unit rate of water flow in gallons per minute for the shower and bathtub in your home.
Shower Usage Unit Rate- How much water is used in one minute when you take a shower?
- Use the table below to record your information and calculate the unit rate
- Use a bucket, bowl, unlined trash can etc. to gather water from your shower for 15 seconds, 30 seconds or one minute. Choose one time factor.
- Use a Solo cup (each holds ___ cups of water) to determine the amount of water gathered. Round to the nearest ½ cup.
- Determine the unit rate or amount of water used in one minute.
Shower Usage Total Minutes- How long is a typical shower for your family?
- Use the table below to record the length of time it takes you and your family members to take a typical shower. Round to the nearest minute.
- You will only use the amount of people in your home.
- Calculate the average amount of time it takes to take a typical shower in your household
Bath/Tub Usage Unit Rates- How much water is used in one minute when you take a bath?
At Home Investigation
- Use a bucket, bowl, unlined trash can etc. to gather water from your bathtub for 15 seconds, 30 seconds or one minute. Choose one time factor.
- Use a Solo cup (each holds ___ cups of water), etc. to determine the amount of water gathered. Round to the nearest ½ cup.
- Determine the unit rate or amount of water used in one minute. Use the table below to record your information and calculate the unit rate
Bath/Tub – How long does it take to fill a bathtub?
- Record the number of minutes it takes to fill your bathtub to a normal level.
_________ minutes
Part 2 – Data Collection
What is Average Amount of Water Your Family Uses in Five Days?
Determine the total amount of water your family consumes, the average daily amount your family consumes, and the average individual daily water consumption.
- Use the Excel spread sheet to record your data.
- Record the information gathered in your investigations into the Excel spread sheet.
- Using this information, calculate the amount of water used per shower usage and per bathtub usage for your family based on your unit rates and average minutes for each.
- Record the data for how many times per day someone living in your home does different water consumption activities for five days.
- Determine the total amount of water used in five days.
- Determine the average amount of water your family uses per day.
- Determine the average amount of water each individual uses per day.
Part 3- Solutions
How can we conserve water?
1. What is water conservation? _________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
2. Why do we need to conserve water? ________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
3. RESEARCH: Research and list at least three methods of conserving water in your home?
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Websites: http://epa.gov/watersense/kids/index.html http://www.epa.gov/region1/students/pdfs/gwa1.pdf http://www.rodalesorganiclife.com/wellbeing/ways-conserve-water
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a) _____________________________________________
b) _____________________________________________
c) _____________________________________________
4. Choose one method you found to conserve water and explain how water is being reduced?
____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
5. How much water would your family save if they…:
a) reduced total weekly shower time by 10 minutes?
b) turned the water off when brushing teeth (two minutes)?
How many gallons must your family save?
CHALLENGE: If the Governor of Georgia suggests a 25 percent or ¼ water usage reduction, this would require each family to reduce their use of water by 25 percent or ¼.
What does 25% mean?
PERCENT means ____________________________________________
Percent fraction decimal
Examples: a) 34% = __________ ________
b) 18% = __________ ________
c) 75% = __________ ________
d) 50% = __________ ________
e) 25% = __________ ________
What is 25% of our total?
In order to find the number of gallons our family must save, we need to calculate 25% of our total water used.
To calculate a percent of a total, we ____________________________.
Example: What is 16% of 35? Multiply 0.16 x 35
Practice:
a) What is 15% of a total of 24 cookies? ________________
b) There are 30 kids in the class and 60% of them are girls. What is 60% of 30? __________________
c) What is 25% of 12 dogs? 0.25 x 12 = ______________ 1/4 x 12 = ________________
d) What is 25% of 48 candy bars? .25 x 48 = ____________ 1/4 x 48 = ________________
Calculate your family goal: What is 25% of _______________
Write your total water usage here
e) Find 25% of your total water usage by multiplying by 0.25 AND multiplying by 1/4
0.25 x _______ = ___________ 1/4 x _______ = _________________
Part 4- Data for Conservation Plan
Using an Excel spread sheet, implement your conservation plan and determine the amount of water being conserved to meet the 25% reduction requirement.
- Using the information from part 3, make changes in your original Excel spread sheet that demonstrates your water conservation plan for your family.
- Determine the total amount of water used in five days under your conservation plan.
- Determine the average amount of water your family uses per day under your conservation plan.
- Determine the average amount of water each individual uses per day under your conservation plan.
Part 5: Final Report
Write a paragraph that details how you will conserve water, why it will work, and how it could affect the state’s water usage. Use your data and research as supporting evidence.
- Start by stating the problem
- Discuss your family’s current water usage
- Explain your conservation plan
- Discuss how much water was saved
- Explain the impact your family’s water conservation and others in your community could have on the states’ water crisis