Shades of Gray(water)
Students are introduced to the concepts of graywater and water reuse within households. They calculate the amount of used water a family generates in one day and use a model of home plumbing to find out how much graywater is produced in homes every day. They graph their results and discuss energy efficiency implications. Students are then challenged to find ways to reduce water use within the home.
Engineers investigate the graywater cycle to increase household water availability.Copyright City of Tuscon AZ http://cms3.tucsonaz.gov/water/greywater
Many engineers are concerned with efficiency. In the case of our municipal water supplies, engineers design ways for people to use resources more efficiently. To help households use less water, engineers have come up with solutions such as low-flow fixtures that get used every day, helping with water conservation. Engineers also investigate ways to improve the water efficiency in homes, such as using treated graywater to flush toilets. They also design treatment systems to remove the contaminants in graywater so it is safe for public use.
After this activity, students should be able to:
- Explain the difference between potable and non-potable water.
- Graph household water usage.
- Make recommendations of ways to reduce freshwater use in households.