Science Unit 8 Lesson 6

Question 1

According to a U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) report from 2010, American households use about. How is most of the water used?

Answer 1

27.4 billion gallons of water per day. This equates to about 90 gallons per person per day. Most of this water is not consumed, but merely flows through the home. This includes toilet flushing, dishwashing, bathing, and many other household uses.

Question 2

Water-saving strategies fall into four general categories:

Answer 2

• limiting consumption
• reusing and recycling
• eliminating losses
• preventing pollution

Question 3

What is the most common way to save water at home?

Answer 3

The most common way to save water in a home is to try to limit the amount of water used in day-to-day activities

Question 4

In a house what wastes the most water?

Answer 4

toielts

Question 5

How do toilets waste water? How was this problem solved?

Answer 5

Older toilets can take seven gallons to flush. A 1992 federal standard mandates new toilets must use less than 1.6 gallons per flush. By replacing older toilets, the family can save more than $110 per year on their water bill.

Question 6

How do showers waste water? How was the problem solved?

Answer 6

Old showerheads typically use 5.5 gallons of water per minute. Since 1992, the federal standard for showerheads is 2.5 gallons per minute, and some showerheads use even less. Upgrading the showerhead can save 2,900 gallons per year. Since water needs to be heated, this also saves on energy costs.

Question 7

How much water does a high-efficiency washer use compared to a normal washing machine?

Answer 7

Their washing machine uses 40 gallons each cycle. High-efficiency, or HE, washing machines use about 13 gallons per cycle.

Question 8

How do front-loading washers save compare to top-loader washing machines?

Answer 8

Front-loading models hold nearly double the laundry of a top-loader, which saves water and energy.

Question 9

About how many gallons of water is used washing dishes?

Answer 9

20 gallons
…
Prior to the 1990s, kitchen faucets used 3 to 7 gallons per minute. It’s easy to use more than 20 gallons to hand-wash dishes.

Question 10

How do dishwashers save water compared to hand washing dishes?

Answer 10

Since 2013, standard dishwashers must use less than 5 gallons per cycle. If the family ran the kitchen faucet for only 3 minutes, it would use more water than a new dishwasher.

Question 11

What is a faucet aerator? How does it save water?

Answer 11

Instead of buying a dishwasher, they can also save some water by installing a faucet aerator. This inexpensive device adds air to the water, so less water is used.

Question 12

How does harvesting rainwater save water?

Answer 12

One way that households can recycle water is by harvesting rainwater. The most common way that households do this is by purchasing and installing rain barrels. A rain barrel usually holds between 50 and 100 gallons and can be installed at a gutter downspout.

Question 13

Collected rainwater can be used for what?

Answer 13

Collected rainwater can be used for any nonpotable use. Water collected using a rain barrel is commonly used to water lawns and gardens, or to wash vehicles and pets. However, with the right system in place, rainwater can be used for just about any nonpotable use in the home.

Question 14

What is them definition of non-potable?

Answer 14

Not safe for drinking

Question 15

What are the two types of household wastewater?

Answer 15

gray water and blackwater.

Question 16

What is gray water?

Answer 16

Gray water is any wastewater produced from washing, such as washing
clothes or washing your hands. The specific regulations about what gray water is and how to treat it vary by state or municipality, but in general, gray
water does not contain any organic waste. It can, however, contain things
such as dirt or soap.

Question 17

What doesn’t gray water contain?

Answer 17

organic matter

Question 18

What can gray water contain?

Answer 18

It can, however, contain things such as dirt or soap.

Question 19

How can gray water be reused?

Answer 19

This water can be recycled and used outside for watering
plants, or with special treatment, it can be used indoors for the flushing of toilets or washing clothes.

Question 20

What is black water?

Answer 20

Blackwater is wastewater generated from toilets or any other water that has come into contact with organic material or waste.

Question 21

What is the difference between black and gray waste cost wise?

Answer 21

Blackwater requires more extensive treatment than gray water, so generally it has to go through the local wastewater treatment facility for treatment.

Question 22

What is black water that comes from the kitchen?

Answer 22

Wastewater that is generated from a kitchen (such as a sink or dishwasher) is technically considered gray water, but the potential for grease and pathogens makes it more expensive and complex to treat. Because of this, wastewater from kitchens should be treated as blackwater.

Question 23

The average household uses 30 percent of its water on outdoor uses. How can gray water help bring this down?

Answer 23

People can use this treated gray water for watering lawns and gardens, as long as they use graywater-friendly detergents once a system has been installed.

Question 24

Why are gray water uses used a lot in California.

Answer 24

Gray water use has been particularly championed in drought-prone areas, such as California. With available fresh water in short supply in those areas, the number of graywater systems that have been installed continues to rise.

Question 25

What is a drawback of gray water?

Cost

Answer 25

Installing a graywater treatment system in a house can be expensive and so may be out of reach for many households.

Question 26

What is a drawback of gray water?

Restrictions

Answer 26

Depending on local regulations, the treatment and use of gray water may be restricted, so make sure to check with your local or state government.

Question 27

What is a drawback of gray water?

Health

Answer 27

As there are potential health risks that are involved with gray water, it is crucial to make sure the gray water is treated properly. If it is not properly handled and stored, it can lead to the spread of diseases, smells, and decrease soil quality.

Question 28

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in the United States alone, household leaks waste nearly

Answer 28

1 trillion gallons of water per year that’s equal to the total amount of water used by over 11 million homes

Question 29

What are Smart water leak dectecors?

Answer 29

Smart water-leak detectors can send an alert to your smartphone when they sense water. These detectors work by connecting your smartphone to sensors placed around your home in water-leak prone areas. The simplest devices sound an alarm on your smartphone when water is detected. Some also have an alarm that sounds at the point of the leak, so that you don’t have tohave your smartphone to be notified of the leak.