How much do you know about the water you use everyday? Put it to the test with the EPA's WaterSense Quiz. Don't worry the answers are at the end.
1. When is the best time of day to water your lawn?
A. Early morning or evening
B. In the afternoon
C. All day long
2. Where does the average home use the most water during the hotter months?
A. Dishwasher
B. Outdoor Watering
C. Shower/Bath
D. Washing Machine
3. How much water does a family of four use every day?
A. 40 gallons
B. 80 gallons
C. 240 gallons
D. 320 gallons
4. When you clean off after playing outside, which uses less water?
A. Taking a 5 minute shower
B. Taking a bath
5. Which of these activities wastes the MOST water per day in the average home?
A. Runningthetapwhilewashingdishes B. Usingagarbagedisposal
C. A leaky toilet
D. Long showers
Answers
1. Answer: A
Although it is fun to run through the sprinklers at the hottest time of day, your lawn should only be watered in the early morning or evening when it's cooler. Watering the yard when it's really hot outside causes the water to evaporate before the plants have time to drink it.
2 Answer: B
Just like you get thirsty when you are hot, plants are thirstier during hot and dry months. Some plants that are native to your area may not mind the hot weather as much and may not need as much extra water beyond what they get from rainfall alone.
3. Answer: D
How can a small family use so much water? It may seem hard to believe, but the average American uses more than 80 gallons of water each day -- to do things like flush toilets, run the faucet, and water plants. That's enough to fill more than 1,200 glasses of water! Think about the things you can do to save more water.
4. Answer: A
While it might be more fun to splash in a warm bath, it takes 70 gallons of water to fill a tub but only 10 to 13 gallons for a five minute shower. If you do take a bath, put the stopper in the drain right away and change the temperature as you fill the tub.
5. Answer: C
A leaky toilet can waste about 200 gallons of water every day! Ask to help your parents test your toilets for leaks. Place a drop of food coloring in the tank and if the color shows in the bowl for flushing, you have a leak.
