Proposal 1 (2nd topic) Water Conservation

Abstract:
The purpose of our experiment is to test and see how much water western uses in one week, the amount of water the average western student uses, and possible ways to reduce those amounts. The prediction is that the average student spends approximately twenty minutes in the shower, seven days a week, and leaves the water running while they brush their teeth. The three dorms will be tested separately and then combined to find the most wasteful dorm and sex.

Introduction:
This summer there was a drought that devastated many American farmers. The lack of rain caused many crops to be plowed under because they would not pull a profit. Yet, with all the devastation, not much was done by society to conserve water. The Western campus has done nothing organized to preserve the water supply. The experiment is intended to test amount and uses of water on Western. The experiment will test each dorm separately dividing the males and females to determine the largest user. The first thought was to test the amount water used by the average student in the shower. That idea was expanded to include the total amount of water used in brushing teeth, showers, and washing hands.
Once the results have been recorded, they will be posted around Western to inform the student body of water use. Conservation ideas and techniques will be posted along with the results hoping that Western students can reduce their water usage. ìKnowledge is the first step to solution.î ñ Sir Isaac Newton

Methods:
To begin this experiment, we will test the amount of water that comes out of the sink faucet and out of the showerhead in a minute. This will be tested by placing a bucket under the faucet or showerhead, the water will be turned on and a person will time for one minute. The water will then be measured and calculated to determine the amount of water dispensed in one minute. Then, all residents of the three Western campus dorms will be surveyed. Each resident will be asked the approximate time spent in the shower each time they shower, the number of showers taken a week, if they leave the water on while they brush their teeth, and the amount of time it takes to brush their teeth.
The survey results can be transformed into numeric data. The time it takes each resident to shower can be multiplied by the amount of water dispensed from the showerhead. That in turn can be multiplied by the number of times a week that the resident showers. Then the data about teeth brushing can be transformed in a similar way to show the water used to per week for brushing teeth. This will develop data that can be calculated and compared.
The calculated results will be tallied and averaged. They will be grouped by dorm, sex and then as a whole. The results will report the most wasteful sex and dorm. It will also reveal how conservative Western is as a whole and possible ways to conserve more water.

References:

Water Conservation & Tips

http://www.ci.sanbruno.ca.us/Finance/watercons.html

City Home City Government Site Map Finance Home Utility Billing Division New Service Understanding Your Statement Utility Rates Making Payments Payment

Water Department Home Page

http://www.ci.rockville-centre.ny.us/water.html

Water Conservation Tips The average family of four uses approximately 350 gallons of water each day. Learn to read your meter so you can keep track of usage. By becoming waste conscious, you can easily

City of Chesapeake - Water Conservation Tips for the Bathroom

http://www.chesapeake.va.us/services/depart/pub-util/h2o-conserv/tips-bath.html

Check the toilet for leaks. Put a few drops of food coloring in your toilet tank. If, without flushing, the color begins to appear in the bowl, you know you

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