Water Savings

Lesson Plan

1. Objectives

To know that humans extract water from the rivers for their own use (both for farming, industry and the general public) and that when this is done during the summer, when rainfall is low, rivers, streams, ponds and lakes are in danger of drying up. This is a big problem in tourism areas as visitors stay mainly in the summer months. When a river dries up it takes about two years for animals to move back in and recover.
To know that children can do their bit by saving water and that this not only helps the rivers and wildlife but also saves their parents money as they do not have to pay for wasted water.

2. Schemes of Work relevance

Key stage 2 Geography Units

6: Investigating the local environment
8: Improving the environment
11: Water

3. Teaching Activities

Use a set of reminders for each child and help them to calculate possible water savings at home using the ideas below. The figures below of £0.003 per litre are based on water metered at a cost of £0.00092 per litre (92p per cubic metre) plus sewerage charge of £0.00195 per litre (195p per cubic metre). It is estimated by the water companies that 95% of the water we use goes through the sewage system - discuss where the other 5% goes?

Shower instead of a bath

A full bath holds 150 litres, if you had a bath everyday you would use 54,750 litres per year (150 x 365 = 54,750).This means it costs you £164 per year (54,750 x 0.003 = 164). A 10-minute shower uses 60 litres, therefore you would use 21,900 litres per year (60 x 365 = 21,900) at a cost of £66 per year (21,900 x 0.003 = 66). This means it costs £98 less if you have showers (£164 - £66 = £98). How many people are there in your house and how much could you save per year?

Leaving the tap on while you brush your teeth

If you leave the tap running you waste 30 litres of water (15 litres per minute), therefore 21900 litres per year (30 x 2 (day and night) x 365 = 21,900), therefore £66 per year. How much would this save in your house?

Washing machine

If you make sure you have full loads of washing you could save two loads each week. Using 150 litres a cycle you could be saving £16 per year (150 x 52 weeks x 0.003 = 23).

Using a HIPPO in the toilet

If you use a HIPPO - a bag that goes in your cistern, available from water companies (or plastic bottles filled with water will do just as well) - you save 3 litres per flush. This means that each person could save £9 per year (3x4 visits per day x 365 x 0.003 = 13).

4. Water Savings Reminders

Have a shower instead if a bath

A full bath uses 150 litres of water

You could save £98 per year

Don’t leave the tap running while brushing your teeth

Use a glass of water instead

You could save £66 per year

Washing Machine

Use full loads only

You could save £23 per year

Flushing the Toilet

Save 3 litres per flush by putting a HIPPO in your cistern

You could save £13 per person per year

Washing your hands

Don’t let the tap run; use a plug

You could save £22 per person per year

Do you use a garden sprinkler?

Plan a garden that needs less water. Recycle bath water and use water butts to collect rainwater

Save over £75 per year

Re-use bath water

Not only can you save water by sharing bath water but you can also re-use it in the garden by fitting a joiner tap onto your down-pipe

You could save £30 per person per year

Washing the car

Using a bucket rather than a hose saves you 140 litres per wash

You could save £22 per year

You may print and photocopy materials for classroom use