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Lesson 1c
Determine Household Water Use & Make Observations
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Obtain the Household Water Use Chart
Print out the Household Water Use Chart using one of the links below. This chart is also available to be downloaded as a spreadsheet (complete with formulas), which can be printed out and used to tabulate results or used in spreadsheet form on a computer to calculate results.

Household Water Use Chart (HTML web page)
Household Water Use Chart (PDF format) **
Household Water Use Chart (Excel format)
Household Water Use Chart (ClarisWorks format)

** PDF format is readable by any computer. Download a free copy of Adobe Acrobat Reader to view and print the PDF file.
Distribute Household Water Use Charts to Students and Record Information
Each student should receive one copy of the Household Water Use Chart. Students should write their names at the top of the chart and then write the names of each of their household members (including themselves) in the column labeled "Household Member Name".  Students should then record the amount of water each household member used in one week (from the Personal Water Use Chart) in the column that says "Total Weekly Water Use".
Calculate Results
Results can be calculated manually or by downloading one of the Household Water Use Chart spreadsheets (Excel or ClarisWorks) and entering the household members' data and the number of people in the household into the spreadsheet on the computer. If you use the spreadsheet, the formulas are already part of the chart. After each household member's information and the number of people in the household is entered the totals will automatically be calculated. Directions for manually calculating the results are below.
  • Add up the "Total Weekly Water Use" for each household member and enter this number in the section at the bottom that is labeled "Total Weekly Water Use by Entire Household". 
  • To find the "Average Daily Water Use by Entire Household " divide the "Total Weekly Water Use by Entire Household" by 7.
  • Enter in the number of people in the household (including the student).
  • Divide the "Average Daily Water Use by Entire Household" by the "Number of People in Household" to get the "Average Daily Water Use". 
Observations
Think about what you have learned about average daily water use. How do your household results compare with what your classmates calculated? What observations can you make about your results? Do any of the results surprise you?