Household Water UseHousehold Water Use

Fig. 14-4a, p. 309

Average annual precipitation (centimeters)

More than 122

Less than 41 81–122

41–81

Images removed due to copyright restrictions.

Fig. 14-4b, p. 309

Images removed due to copyright restrictions.

Fig. 14-8, p. 314

Images removed due to copyright restrictions.

Water usage - U.S.A. and ChinaWater usage - U.S.A. and China

Figure by UMB OpenCourseWare.

Images removed due to copyright restrictions.

Quabbin ReservoirQuabbin Reservoir

Source Reservoirs: 477 billion gallons Source Reservoirs: 477 billion gallons  Quabbin Reservoir:Quabbin Reservoir: 412 billion gallons 412 billion gallons Wachusett Reservoir:Wachusett Reservoir: 65 billion gallons 65 billion gallons

Images removed due to copyright restrictions.

MWRA Water SupplyMWRA Water Supply

215 Million gallons per day215 Million gallons per day Quabbin holds 4 year supplyQuabbin holds 4 year supply

Image courtesy of Massachusetts Water Resources Authority

MetroWest TunnelMetroWest Tunnel

$728M$728M 17.6 miles, 14’ diameter17.6 miles, 14’ diameter 200-500’ deep200-500’ deep 100 million gallons/d100 million gallons/d 7 years7 years Completed 2004Completed 2004

Image courtesy of Massachusetts Water Resources Authority

Blue Hills Covered StorageBlue Hills Covered Storage(20M gallons;180M gallons total)(20M gallons;180M gallons total)

Supply and DemandSupply and Demand

Image courtesy of Massachusetts Water Resources Authority

Reduction in average water use Reduction in average water use was achieved through:was achieved through:

Vigorous leak detection and repair efforts on MWRA and community Vigorous leak detection and repair efforts on MWRA and community pipes pipes

Retrofitting 370,000 homes with low-flow plumbing devices Retrofitting 370,000 homes with low-flow plumbing devices A Water Management Program for area businesses, municipal A Water Management Program for area businesses, municipal

buildings and nonprofit organizations buildings and nonprofit organizations Extensive public information and school education programs Extensive public information and school education programs A change in the state plumbing code requiring new toilets to be 1.6 A change in the state plumbing code requiring new toilets to be 1.6

gallon per flush gallon per flush Meter improvements that helped track and analyze community Meter improvements that helped track and analyze community

water use water use New water-efficient technology that has created reductions in New water-efficient technology that has created reductions in

residential use residential use Water pipeline replacement and rehabilitation projects throughout Water pipeline replacement and rehabilitation projects throughout

the MWRA and community systems. the MWRA and community systems.

Household Water UsageHousehold Water Usage

Town Water UsageTown Water Usage http://www.mwra.com/monthly/wsupdat/http://www.mwra.com/monthly/wsupdat/

archivecomwatuse.htmarchivecomwatuse.htm Water Saving TipsWater Saving Tips http://www.mwra.com/comsupport/http://www.mwra.com/comsupport/

conservation/hometips.htmconservation/hometips.htm

Water Use HomeworkWater Use Homework

Calculate how much water you use per Calculate how much water you use per week (per person).week (per person).

What are the different uses of water in What are the different uses of water in your house?your house? How often do you use this water per week?How often do you use this water per week? How fast is the water supplied?How fast is the water supplied? How many people use this water?How many people use this water?

Show calculationsShow calculations

Fig. 14-21, p. 327

Solutions

Reducing Water Waste

• Redesign manufacturing processes

• Repair leaking underground pipes

• Landscape yards with plants that require little water

• Use drip irrigation

• Fix water leaks

• Use water meters

• Raise water prices

• Use waterless composting toilets

• Require water conservation in water-short cities

• Use water-saving toilets, showerheads, and front loading clothes washers

• Collect and reuse household water to irrigate lawns and nonedible plants

• Purify and reuse water for houses, apartments, and office buildings

• Don't waste energy

Fig. 14-25, p. 333

What Can You Do?Water Use and Waste

• Use water-saving toilets, showerheads, and faucet aerators.

• Shower instead of taking baths, and take short showers.

• Stop water leaks.

• Turn off sink faucets while brushing teeth, shaving, or washing.

• Flush toilets only when necessary.

• Wash only full loads of clothes or use the lowest water-level for smaller loads.

• Use recycled (gray) water for lawn, gardens, house plants, car washing.

• Wash a car from a bucket of soapy water, and use the hose for rinsing only.

• If you use a commercial car wash, try to find one that recycles its water.

• Replace your lawn with native plants that need little if any watering and decorative gravel or rocks.

• Water lawns and gardens in the early morning or evening.

• Sweep or blow off driveways instead of hosing off with water.

• Use drip irrigation and mulch for gardens and flowerbeds.