= ackground 5 Earth is often referred to as the blue planet © gc the water planet. Photographs of Earth taken » from space are predominantly colored in shades ofblue. This is not surprising, since water cit- culating in oceans or frozen in ice fields covers about 71 percent of the planet, In fact, scientists estimate that there is enough water on Earth ‘to cover the whole United States with water ninety-three miles deep! Water is constantly moving through the water cycle, driven by the sun's energy; each day the sun evaporates 1,000,000,000,000 (one trillion) tons of water. ‘Switching from the global to the personal perspective, by weight the human body has nearly the same percentage of water as the planet— * about 65-70 percent. The brain is almost all water (95 percent, by weight). So, if we are such watery creatures living in watery world, why do we need to use water wisely? It comes down to a simple formula: every water user (including plants and animals) needs ‘water in the right place, atthe right time, of the right quantity and quality. Most of the water on Earth is salt water that cannot be easily used by humans for drinking, growing crops, manufac- turing, and other uses. About 97 percent of the water on Earthis| found in oceans, Only about 3 percent is fresh. Of this fresh water, a large percentage is frozen in icecaps and glaciers or is unavailable for use because it is too far underground, polluted, or trapped in soil. Stated simply, if thirty gallons of ‘water in a bathtub represented all the water in the ‘world, only about one-half teaspoon of that water ‘would represent the amount of available fresh water (about 03 percent of the total). On a regional or local scale, the availability of fresh water depends on geography, climate, local ‘water consumption, infrastructure, and weather, In Arizona, much of the state is desert where plants and animals have adapted to dry condi- tions. In the higher and cooler mountain areas, ‘ater is more available, and plants and animals Water Audit Water Audit How does your home water use tally up? | that are adapted to wetter climates can grow (see Average Annual Precipitation Map, page 43). People have also adapted to the variable availabil- ity of water through technological and cultural means. In Phoenix and other large southern Arizona cities, for example, water is naturally scarce, but technologies such as dams, the Central Arizona Project (CAP), and ground water pumping have allowed millions more people than would other- wise have been possible to live, farm, and recreate. Although higher elevation areas of the state generally receive more precipitation than lower elevation areas, it does not necessarily mean that there is more water available for human uses. Saguaro cact are specifically adapted forthe environmental conditlons ofthe Sonéran Desert and are found nowhere else on Earth, ©2007 Project WET international FoundationArizona Conserve Water Precipitation at higher elevations may quickly run off or enter ground water and flow to lower eleva- tions. For example, Williams has very limited sur- face water and ground water supplies, although it receives considerably more precipitation on aver- age than Yuma (twenty-one inches versus three inches). Yuma has more plentiful water supplies due to its proximity to the Colorado River and its senior water rights. In the Flagstaff area, precipitation is relatively plentiful, but technological adaptations are still needed, because the population has outgrown the capacity of surface water to support human activ- ity at the current level of water use. To augment water from the surface, ground water is pumped from the Coconino Aquifer. In many areas, technology has helped solve the problem of insufficient water availability, but technological solutions are expensive and have limits in their capacity, For example, water from ‘CAP has thus far made it possible for the Phoenix area to grow because the canal brings in water from the Colorado River. But Arizona is limited in the amount of water that can legally be taken from the Colorado River, since six other states in the U.S. and two in Mexico also share the river. Reservoirs can help reduce fluctuations in water supply by storing water from wet periods for use in dry ones. A problem with this, particularly in hot and dry climates like Arizona’ is that water is lost to evaporation while stored behind dams. Ground water pumping can ‘meet some water needs, but if water is removed from the ground faster than itis replaced by precipitation, even that water supply will eventually be unavailable. Even if you live in a water-rich area, water ‘treatment costs money. Water flows from its source—such as a river or well—through pipes to water treatment plants where it is cleaned before use. From the water treatment plant it moves through pipes to our residences and indus- tries. After use, water must be treated before it is released into a river or other water source. Conserving water saves treatment costs and can prolong the amount of time that a treatment sys- tem is operated before needing to be expanded. For example, Supai Village (located in Havasu. Canyon, a side canyon of the Grand Canyon) needed a new wastewater treatment system because the existing one was no longer able to handle the volume of wastewater needing treat- ment. The cost of upgrading or replacing the sys- tem was prohibitive, but by repairing water leaks in homes and installing new, low-flow plumbing fixtures, the amount of wastewater needing to be treated was reduced to an amount that was within the treatment system's capacity (see case study on page 296 for more information). ‘Communities can suffer water shortages because of drought or sudden increases in popu- lation, Building larger treatment plants, dams, diversion projects, or desalinization plants can increase water availability. However, these options are time-consuming to build as well as expensive, and some communities cannot afford them. What can citizens do? Regardless of where a community is located, citizens can use less water by implementing water conservation practices. However, before a water conservation program is put into practice, a water audit is useful to provide baseline data from which to measure the progress of the program. ‘An audit is one of the frst steps in moving toward water conservation knowledge and action. Just asa financial audit informs us about the way. money is truly spent, a water audit quantifies the actual use of water in an informative way, Before wwe can take steps to solve a problem, we need documented benchmarks to start from and to ‘measure progress against, ‘Water audits ate becoming a standard feature of long-range planning for industries, communi- ties, and individuals. The findings are, without exception, illuminating; and they are often sur prising. As the costs of providing water escalate, the importance of benchmark data and conserva- tion strategies based on reliable figures also rises. (©2007 Project WET International FoundationName Water Audit ‘Summary: You will investigate water resources and water conservation concepts, conduct a home water audit, and compare and contrast results with and without the implementation of water conservation practices. Finally, you will make recommendations for personal conservation strategies at home. Procedure ~PART 1: 1. Water Uses — identify all of the ways you use water in 2 24-hour period inside and outside your home. Inside: Outside: 2. Complete Column A (predicted # of water uses per day) of Water Use Table |. You are totaling the number of times not the amount of time. 3. Record the number of times they actually conduct each water use activity over the next twenty-four hour period in Column B (actual # of water uses per day) in Water Use Table I. 4, Calculate the actual # of gallons used per day. Use Data Table 3 Flow Rates for Household Appliances and Fixtures to determine the values in Column C of Water Use Table I. Multiply the values in Columns B & Cto determine Column D (8x C= D). Compare your predicted water use (Column A) with the actual water use (Column B). 5, Suggest possible water conservation practices that you could implement at home.Part it 11. Implement as many water conservation practices as you can and then record the total amount of water used in a 24-hour period while using these water conservation practices in Water Audit Data Sheet I, 2. Compare the total number of gallons from Part | (Water Use Table I) and Part 2 (Water Use Table I). How many gallons did you save? 3. Construct a bar graph of water use vs. actual gallons used for both before you implemented water conservation practices (Water Use Table |) and after you implemented water conservation practices (Water Use Table 2). 4, How did water consumption change after implementing water conservation measures? 5, Were you more careful about your water use after you realized how much you used? 6. Which water conservation measures were easiest and hardest to do? Why? 7. Select one conservation practice & list it. 8. If you were to regularly apply this practice (from #7), how many gallons of water would you save each ‘month?, See 9. If your family were to regularly apply this practice (from #7), how many gallons of water would you aves ath namie -:esaeecstegenc tee coeaaee gee ase ase aaee nebo ane eteanentegee ESE10. Is it a good idea for a school or business to conduct a water audit? Why or why not? 11. List 5 recommendations for your family to conserve water usage based on your home water audit. 12. Post these recommendations to the discussion board and read and respond to at least one other student's recommendation.‘Audit Data Sheet | ‘Water Audit ottom any other home water uses that apply Be. to you but are not listed (eg, swimming pool, hot tub, etc.) Research how many gallons of ‘water that use requires, ‘Think of how often you directly use water [every day. Write down how many times you think you conduct a particular activity each . day in Column A. Some of these activities wwor't take place every day. 4. ‘Throughout the following day record how “many times you actually use water (Column B). { 4. The amount of water that houschold fixtures and appliances use depends on their age, Student Copy Page S—~ because plumbing codes over the years have required certain maximum flow rates, Use the Flow Rate Chart (below) to determine how ‘much water your fixtures use. Ifyou don't know how old your fixtures are, make your calculations based on the numbers in Column 3 of the Flow Rate Chart. Enter the flow rates in Column C_ 5. Multiply the number of times you use the water by how many gallons each use generally requires (Column D). 6. Add all the numbers in Column D, 7. Write your answer in the last box in Column D (total). This is the estimated number of gallons of water you use every day. Data Table FLOW RATE: Column Column 2 Older model (before 1994) After 1994 (or Efficient) Kitchen faucet | 3 gallons per minute 2.5 gallons per minute Bathroom faucet _| 3 gallons per minute 2.5 gallons per minute Shower 5 gallons per minute 2.5 gallons per minute Toilet 5 gallons per flush 1L6 gallons per flush ‘Washing machine | 40 gallons per load (on large setting) | 25 gallons per load on lange setting (Efficient is 15 salons) Dishwasher 15 gallons perload 8 gallons per load Garden hose 10 gallons per minute 3 gallons per minute with nozale | '©2007 Project WET International Foundationee Wetec Water use ColumnA | Column B ‘Column C, Column D predicted # of | actual # of water | # of gallons per | actual # of gallons used ‘water uses per | uses per day use from table on | per day (Bx C=D) day age 153) Brush teeth for two minutes, water running: ‘One toilet flush: fash family dinner dishes by hand using running water for rinsing, 20 minutes: 12-minute shower: One dishwasher cycle: Wash hands with water running for 2 minutes: ‘Use washing machine on largest load setting: Geta drink of cold water by leting fancet run for 1 minute Water lawn for 30 minutes using sprinklers: ‘Wash something with hose running for 20 minutes (eg, car, driveway, dog, bike, etc): Total: ©2007 Project WET International Foundation."uses that you added to Water Use Table Ie. swimming pool, hot tub, etc,). Conduct your daily water activities, but think of ways you can conserve water. Several suggestions are listed in the chart, but you may contribute any ideas you have and estimate your water savings. Refer to the Flow Rate ‘Chart (page 153) if necessary. . Add up the total number of gallons in Column D. |. Compare the total number of gallons in Column D with the total number of gallons you used on Water Audit Data Sheet I. How many gallons of water did you save in one day by practicing a few simple water conservation actions? How many gallons would your family save in one day if everyone participated in these water conservation actions?. Student Copy Page SS How many gallons would your family save in one month? CHALLENGE! Set yourself a goal of using 30 percent less water than usual fora month. Consider re-using water as part of your strategy (for example, capturing the water that runs down the drain while you're waiting for the shower to warm up, and using itto water a plant outdoors). a. What is your target amount of water used per day? List at least five strategies for reducing your water use to your target amount: (©2007 Project WET Internationa! FoundationWater use Column A. Column B | Column C Column D water conservation | # of water | estimated # of gallons per use| actual #of gallons used action uses per day pet day (BxC=D) | without with conservation | conservation action action a Brush teeth for ‘wo minutes, Water running: - One toilet flush: | Replace old (pre- 1.6 gallons 1994) toilet with water-effcient toilet: zt ee ‘Wash family din- | Wash dishes and ner dishes by hand | dip in a pan of using running wa- | water to rinse: - ter for rinsing, 20 minutes: : _| 12-minute shower: ‘One dishwasher cycle: ‘Wash hands with water running for 2 minutes: ‘Wash one load of | Wash one load of clothes using top- | clothes using high- Joading washing | efficiency front- ‘machine: loading washing machine: 7 Getadrinkof | Poura glass of 05 gallon cold water by | water from pitcher letting water run_ | in refrigerator: fort minute until its cold: 7 ‘Water lawn 30 minutes using sprinklers: ‘Wash car for 20 | Use bucket, sponge, 10 gallons ‘minutes with hose | and controlled-flow running: nozzle: Total: if (©2007 Project WET international Foundation,Use these resources ty pes arch Water Conservation Preckees. a Department of Water Resources ks and information about water resources and \servation in Arizona. vazwater gov/dwr! “Arizona Municipal Water Users Association ‘and information about water resources and efforts in the city of Phoenix, http://phoenix.gov/ WATER/waterpln html # SAHRA (Sustainability of semi-Arid Hydrology and Riparian Areas) Research and educational resources about water Fesources and management in Arizona. wwwesahra.arizona.edu/ University of Arizona College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Description of Cochise County's Water Wise pro- gram and water audit. hittp:/cals.arizona.edu/impacts/4_4.html (©2007 Project WET International Foundation Pe eee eee Water Audit