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Water
Conservation
Subject
Area|
This activity is designed for use in the Grade 12 Geography—Environmental
Studies (GNS) course. It can be modified for use in other subjects;
for example it is also applicable to Urban Studies (Geography)
and Society (History) programs.
Subject
Application
This activity can be conducted as a study of urban water management
as part of the Environmental Issues unit in the Environmental
Studies Geography curriculum. It integrates the concepts of Ecosystems
and Resources with Built Environments and the changes or issues
which arise in human-environment interactions. Studies of Urban
Geography should focus on the resource management requirements
of urban centres. Society (History) students should address the
psychological, sociological and economic aspects of influencing
conservation behaviour.
Learning
Objectives
Teaching, learning and evaluation will focus on the student’s
ability to:
- Develop
and express an awareness of water as a finite resource;
- Evaluate
and theorize on their personal water use patterns;
- Develop
and evaluate water conservation strategies to reduce water use.
Classroom
Development
Students should be familiar with the relative nature of water
supply and their own patterns of water use. It is suggested that
this background be provided by completing all or portions of,
the Water Management exercise included as part of this curriculum
package. Note: If students have not completed a personal Water
Log exercise as part of the Water Management activity, you may
wish to have them complete this exercise prior to beginning this
lesson. This would entail assigning the Water Log exercise 1 week
in advance of this lesson.
- Students
read Water Conservation—Every Drop Counts (Freshwater Series
A-6: Environment Canada) and answer the corresponding student
question sheet.
- Conduct
a class discussion based on the question responses, and focusing
on water as a finite resource, uses of water, water quality,
water supply and individual actions to conserve water.
- If the
class has completed the Water Log exercise (see Water Management
activity), use that information as the basis for developing
a personal water conservation plan, as outlined in step 4.
- Students
will develop a personal water conservation action plan incorporating
the 3R’s of water conservation: Reduce, Repair, and Retrofit.
Direct students to complete the Personal Water Conservation
Plan Work Sheet. Students should estimate the amount of water
they would save with their plan. Discuss results as a class
or in small groups.
Background
Information
The issue of water conservation is extensively covered in Water—No
Time To Waste: A Consumer’s Guide To Water Conservation (Environment
Canada, 1990). Water Conservation—Every Drop Counts (Environment
Canada, 1992), provided as reading materials, also provides a
concise treatment of the subject. A complete set of 9 Water Fact
Sheets, dealing with a variety of water related issues, is available
from Environment Canada at (800)668-6767. Note: a copy of the
Water Log, referred to in this exercise, is found on page 22 of
Water—No Time To Waste.
Timing
- One to
two periods (50 min each) to read each article and answer questions,
including class discussion. Students will require one week to
complete the water log. This should be assigned in advance.
- One
period is required to research and develop personal water conservation
plans and to discuss the results.
Resources
- Environment Canada.
Water Conservation - Every Drop Counts. Freshwater Series
A-6. Ottawa: Canada
- Communications
Group, November 1992. (800)668-6767.
- Environment Canada.
Water - No Time To Waste: A Consumer’s Guide To Water
Conservation. Ottawa: Canada
- Communication Group,
1990. (800)668-6767.
Cross-disciplinary Links
This activity can be utilized in the Family Studies, Business/Economics
or Consumer Studies programs as a case study of household water
management, and the behavioural and economic factors which impact
upon it. Mathematics courses may choose to extend this exercise
into measuring actual water savings and determining the most efficient
and cost-effective water conservation strategies.
Student
Materials
Water Conservation—Every Drop Counts (Freshwater Series A-6:
Environment Canada)
Water Conservation—Every Drop Counts
Personal Water Conservation Plan
Water Log (Water—No Time To Waste, Environment Canada) pg.
22
Student
Question Sheet
- What
does the term “water conservation” mean?
- Briefly
describe the 6 limiting factors on Canada’s water supply.
- Briefly
describe how each of the following initiatives will enable municipalities
to better manage water supply:
a) Metering;
b) Water efficient residential technology;
c) Leak detection and repair;
d) Rates, pricing and public education.
- What
factors are contributing to a decline in water quality?
- What
percentage of water is used inside the home?
- Explain
the “three rules of water conservation” with an example
of each.
- How could
the use of water be reduced in your school?
- What
are three benefits of water conservation?
Personal
Water Conservation Plan
Instructions
Based on the information contained in Water Conservation—Every
Drop Counts, prepare a personal water conservation strategy which
can be applied at home, school and work.
Describe and categorize the actions you would take according to
the three rules of water conservation (reduce, repair, and retrofit).
Estimate how much water each of your actions would save.
Finally, estimate how much water your plan would save overall.
Reduce:
Repair:
Retrofit:
Total Estimated
Savings:
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