Unit 7: Using Water
Ways to reduce water use activity guide
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This project was funded by the Department of Sustainability and Environment.
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Unit 7: Using Water
Ways to reduce water use activity guide
Estimated duration: 20 minutes
Aim •
To summarise the ways individuals can reduce water consumption in the home.
Outcome By the end of this class, students will be able to: • list behaviours to reduce water consumption • list ideas for more water efficient appliances
Resources • •
Our water use worksheet (from our water use activity) Suggested ways to save water (below) and also see http://www.environmentvictoria.org.au/content/leave‐target‐155‐dead‐ how‐use‐less‐100‐litres‐water‐day
Activity Description Conduct a class discussion about the different areas in which students can reduce water consumption (for example having shorter showers and fewer baths). Include ideas of water re‐use, e.g. using shower water on the garden. Introduce the idea of devices for increasing water efficiency such as aerators for taps, low‐flow shower heads and water efficient washing machines and dishwashers. Also consider innovations such as rainwater flush toilets. Additional discussion points could be: • Should we create water desalination plants? What are the pros and cons? Is it worth creating greenhouse gases and polluting marine environments to create more fresh water? • Should we be drinking recycled drinking water?
Student Roles and Responsibilities Participate in agreed tasks Contribute to class discussions Complete activities and worksheets Seek teacher assistance and support when needed
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Level of Teacher Support Facilitate discussion Organise materials and equipment Provide encouragement Introduce tasks and activities Provide assistance when requested
Assessment To use this learning activity as an assessment task, collect evidence such as: Teacher checklist and observation Student research notes and report Copies of student materials and worksheets Student notes Teacher checklist for class discussions
Some ways to reduce water use Item Shower
Toilet
Bath
Behaviour You could buy/install • Use a shower timer • Low flow shower head • Take shorter showers • Water flow restrictor • Install grey water system • Take less showers (1/day) to collect shower water for garden • Collect cold water while waiting for it to warm up, for garden • If its yellow let it • Grey water system to mellow reuse water to flush toilet • If the cistern is leaking, • Install dual flush system fix it • Use a “fix a flush” weight • Put in a toilet dam to control flush length (i.e. (plastic bottle to flushes only when button displace water) to is held down) reduce water amount in cistern • Reduce number of • Install grey water system baths to collect bath water for garden • Don’t completely fill the bath
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Item Dish‐ washer
Hand washing dishes
Behaviour • Only run when you have a full load • •
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Washing machine
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Leaving tap running while cleaning Teeth
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Garden
Don’t completely fill the sink Use gloves so water is hotter and does not need to be refilled Wash cleaner stuff first so water does not get dirty too early and need to be replaced Only wash with a full load
You could buy/install • Buy the most water efficient model
Only hand water (depending on restrictions) Reuse grey water in the garden Mulch garden to help retain moisture in the soil Add compost to the soil, to help retain moisture Turn off the tap while brushing teeth
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Install grey water system to collect sink water for garden Buy special “sink bucket” to transfer and reuse water in garden
Buy the most water efficient model (front loaders) Install grey water system to collect washing water for garden Plant natives or plants that need little watering
Install flow restrictors or aerators to reduce water flow per minute from tap
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