Prepared by:
A.R. Rubin, Extension Specialist
Biological and Agricultural Engineering
Publication Number: HE-251
Last Electronic Revision: March 1996 (JWM)
They will be doing it by modifying their commodes, faucets and showerheads to save water, which also helps to save electricity or gas used in pumping and heating water.
The devices needed to make the modifications cost about $20. They are available at most plumbing supply and hardware stores. They are easy to install.
The worksheets in this publication provide a step-by-step way for you to determine just how much money you can save with various conserving devices. Take a few minutes to fill out the worksheets. See if you can save $120. See if you can save more.
These worksheets were prepared as a part of the "Water Watch" program of the North Carolina Agricultural Extension Service. Extension workers believe water conservation makes good economic sense for North Carolina families. They also believe that competition for water is going to increase and that all segments of our society must learn to use it more wisely.
TYPICAL INDIVIDUAL WATER CONSERVING INDIVIDUAL MY FAMILY
1. Uses ordinary showerheads with Uses water-conserving showerheads with ___________
flow rate of 5 gals/minute. flow rate of 3 gals/minute. gals/min
2. Takes 5 to 10-minute showers. Takes 5-minute showers. ___________
minutes
3. Uses 25 to 50 gallons of water/shower. Uses 15 gallons of water/shower.
(5 gal/min. x 5 min/day = 25 gal/day) (3 gal/min x 5 min/day = 15 gal/day) ___________
(5 gal/min x 10 min/day = 50 gal/day) gals/shower
4. Uses 9125 gallons of water annually, Uses 5475 gallons of water annually, ___________
assuming daily showers. assuming daily showers. gals/year
(25 gals/shower x 365 showers/year = (15 gals/shower x 365 showers/year =
9125 gals/year) 5475 gals/year)
5. Spends $13.69 annually for shower Spends $8.21 annually for shower $___________
water, assuming water rate is $1.50 water, assuming water rate is $1.50
per 1000 gallons. per 1000 gallons.
(9.125 thousand x $1.50/thousand = (5.475 thousand x $1.50/thousand =
$13.69)$8.21)
6. Uses 5475 gallons of hot water, assuming Uses 3285 gallons of hot water, assuming ___________
60% of shower water is heated. 60% of shower water is heated. gallons
(9125 gal x .6 = 5475 gals) (5475 gals x .6 = 3285 gals)
7. Uses 1095 kwh electricity to heat the Uses 821 kwh electricity to heat the water. ___________
water, assuming 1/5 kwh/gallon require dassuming 1/5 kwh/gallon required kwh
to heat water from 50 deg °F to 13 deg F to heat water from 50 deg °F to 130 deg F°
(5475 gals x .20 gals/kwh = 1095 kwh) (3285 gals x .20 kwh/gals = 821 kwh)
8. Spends $43.80 per year to heat shower Spends $32.85 per year to heat shower $___________
water, assuming electricity is 4 cents water, assuming electricity is 4 cents
per kilowatt hour. per kilowatt hour.
(1095 kwh x $.04/kwh = $43.80) (821 kwh x $.04/kwh = $32.84)
9. Spends $57.49 per family member on Spends $41.06 per family member on $___________
shower water and energy to heat water. shower water and energy to heat water
($43.80 + $13.69 = $57.49) ($32.84 + $8.21 = $41.05)
10. Has 4 persons in family. Has 4 persons in family. ___________
11. Spends $229.96 annually on shower Spends $164.20 annually on shower water $___________
water and energy for entire family. and energy for entire family.
(4 x $57.49 = $229.96) (4 x $41.05 = $164.20)
TYPICAL INDIVIDUAL WATER CONSERVING INDIVIDUAL MY FAMILY
1. Uses ordinary faucet aerator with Uses low volume faucet aerator with ___________
flow of 4 gpm. flow of 2 gpm. gals/min
2. Uses faucets for 5 minutes per day. Uses faucets for 5 minutes per day. ___________
minutes/day
3. Uses 20 gallons of water per day for Uses 10 gallons of water per day for
toothbrushing, shaving, dishwashing, etc. toothbrushing, shaving, dishwashing, etc ___________
(4 gpm x 5 min/day = 20 gal/day) (2 gpm x 5 min/day = 10 gal/day) gals/day
4. Uses 7300 gallons of water at the sink Uses 3650 gallons of water at the sink ___________
faucet annually. faucet annually. gals/year
(20 gpd x 365 days/yr = 7300 gal/yr) (10 gpd x 365 days/yr = 3650 gal/yr)
5. Pays $1.50 for each 1000 gallons used Pays $1.50 for each 1000 gallons used $___________
or $10.95 per year for 7300 gallons. or $5.48 per year for 3650 gallons.
($1.50 x 7.3 = $10.95) ($1.50 x 3.65 = $5.48)
6. Uses 1625 gallons of hot water at Uses 910 gallons of hot water at ___________
the faucet (assume 25% of total the faucet (assume 25% of total gallons
water used at faucet). water used at faucet).
(7300 x .25 = 1625 gals! (3650 x .25 = 910 gals)
7. Uses 325 kwh to heat that water Uses 182 kwh to heat that water ___________
(assume 1 kwh will heat 5 gals). (assume 1 kwh will heat 5 gals). kwh
(1625 gal x .2 kwh/gal = 325 kwh) (910 x .20 = 182 kwh)
8. Spends $13.00 annually to heat water Spends $7.28 annually to heat water $___________
used at the faucet. used at the faucet.
(325 kwh x $.04 = $13.00) (182 kwh x $.04 = $7.28)
9. Spends $23.95 annually on water and Spends $14.60 annually on water and $___________
energy at the faucets. energy at the faucets.
($13.00 + $10.95 = $23.95) ($7.28 + $5.48 = $12.76)
10. Has 4 family members. Has 4 family members. ___________
individuals
11. Spends $95.80 at the faucets. Spends $51.04 at the faucets.
(4 x $23.95 = $95.80) (4 x $12.76 = $51.04) $___________
TYPICAL INDIVIDUAL WATER CONSERVING INDIVIDUAL MY FAMILY 1. Uses ordinary commode with a Installs water saving device __________ capacity of 5 gallons/flush. to reduce flush capacity to gals/flush 3.5 gallons/flush. 2. Uses commode 5 times per day. Uses commode 5 times per day. __________ times/day 3. Uses 25 gallons of water per Uses 17.5 gallons of water __________ day to carry waste. per day to carry waste. gals/day (5 gals/flush x 5 flushes/day = (3.5 gals/flush x 5 flushes/day = 25 gallons) 17.5 gallons) 4. Uses 9125 gallons of water each Uses 6388 gallons of water each __________ year to carry waste. year to carry waste. gals/year (25 gals/day x 365 days/year = (17.5 gals/day x 365 days/year 9125 gals) 6388 gals) 5. Pays $1.50 for each 1000 gallons or Pays $1.50 for each 1000 gallons or $__________ $13.69 per year. $9.58 per year. ($1.50 x 9.125 thousands gals = ($1.50 x 6.388 thousands gals = $13.65) $9.58) 6. Has 4 people in the family and spends Has 4 people in the family and spends $__________ $54.76 annually on water to carry $38.32 annually on water to carry waste. waste. (4 people/family x $13.69/person = (4 people/family x $9.58/person = $54.76) $38.32)
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