We use water every day, often without giving much thought to how much we consume or where it goes. We shower, wash dishes, flush toilets, and turn on faucets dozens of times a day. But are some of our everyday habits wasting more water than we realize?
And what about the choices businesses make when upgrading their restrooms? Do popular water-saving fixtures always deliver the results they promise?
Take this six-question quiz to find out how much you know about water conservation. Some of the answers may surprise you!
Test Your Water Conservation Knowledge
1. How Much Fresh Water Can We Actually Use?
Roughly 71 percent of the Earth's surface is covered by water. That sounds like an abundant supply, but how much is readily available for human use?
A) Less than 1 percent
B) 10 percent
C) 20 percent
D) 25 percent
2. Which Uses More Water: A Shower or a Bath?
You're looking for an easy way to reduce household water consumption. Which option is more water-efficient?
A) A five-minute shower
B) Filling the bathtub for a bath
3. What's One of the Biggest Sources of Household Water Waste?
Consider these common household activities. Which one has the potential to waste the greatest amount of water?
A) Washing dishes after dinner
B) Brushing your teeth
C) Leaving a leaking toilet unrepaired
D) Taking an extended shower
4. What's the Financial Benefit of Repairing Household Leaks?
You discover several small leaks around your home. Fixing them may take some time, but the water savings could be substantial. According to EPA estimates, how much water can the average household save annually by addressing leaks?
A) About 1,000 gallons
B) About 5,000 gallons
C) About 10,000 gallons
D) About 18,000 gallons
5. Do Dual-Flush Toilets Always Deliver the Promised Savings?
A commercial property manager replaces conventional toilets with dual-flush models advertised to reduce water consumption by approximately 20 percent. After several months, the building's water bills are reviewed. What might the results reveal?
A) Water consumption decreased by the full 20 percent
B) Savings amounted to just 5 percent
C) Water consumption increased
D) There was no measurable difference
6. What Should Businesses Consider When Purchasing Waterless Urinals?
A facility manager is comparing three established waterless urinal manufacturers. The fixtures have similar purchase prices and appear to offer comparable performance. Which factor should carry the most weight in the final decision?
A) The lowest initial installation cost
B) Which manufacturer has the newest product
C) The total cost of ownership over the fixture's useful life
D) The length of the manufacturer's warranty
The Answers: How Did You Do?
1. A — Less than 1 percent
Although water covers most of the Earth's surface, the overwhelming majority is salt water. Much of the remaining freshwater is frozen in glaciers and ice caps or otherwise inaccessible. The amount readily available for everyday human use represents less than 1 percent of the planet's total water supply.
2. A — five-minute shower
A typical five-minute shower uses 10 to 25 gallons of water, depending on the showerhead and flow rate. Filling a bathtub requires around seventy gallons. Shortening showers is one relatively simple way households can reduce water consumption.
3. C — A leaking toilet
A toilet that continues to leak can waste as much as two hundred gallons of water daily. That's a considerable amount of water disappearing without providing any benefit.
Not sure whether your toilet is leaking? Try a simple test: add a few drops of food coloring to the tank and wait 15 minutes without flushing. If the color appears in the bowl, water is escaping from the tank.
4. C — About 10,000 gallons
According to EPA’s WaterSense program, household leaks account for substantial water waste. Repairing them can save the average household approximately 10,000 gallons annually. That's enough water for three hundred loads of laundry.
The lesson is straightforward: even relatively minor leaks deserve attention. Left unrepaired, they can add up to significant water waste and unnecessary expense.
5. C — Water consumption can increase
This is an important reminder that advertised water savings don't always translate into real-world performance.
Dual-flush toilets are designed to offer different flush volumes, but mechanical problems, leaking flush valves, and user confusion can undermine their intended efficiency. Some users also double-flush, reducing or eliminating the expected savings.
Research involving U.K. water companies has raised concerns that leaks from dual-flush toilet mechanisms can waste more water than the fixtures were designed to save.
For facility managers, the takeaway is to evaluate actual operating performance, maintenance requirements, and water consumption rather than relying exclusively on advertised efficiency figures.
6. C — Consider the total cost of ownership
The initial purchase price is only one part of the equation when selecting commercial waterless urinals. Replacement components, maintenance frequency, labor, and product longevity can have a significant impact on long-term operating expenses.
For example, Waterless Co.'s EcoTrap cylinder is designed for a longer service life and costs less to replace than some competing systems. Over time, these differences can contribute to lower ownership costs.
For facility managers, the smartest purchasing decision isn't necessarily the product with the lowest upfront price. It's the one that delivers dependable performance and the best overall value throughout its useful life.
How Did You Score?
6 correct: Excellent! You have a strong understanding of water conservation and the decisions that help reduce waste.
4–5 correct: Not bad! You know the basics, but there may be a few opportunities to improve your water-saving habits.
3 or fewer: Time for a little water conservation homework. Start by checking your home or workplace for leaks.
Taking Water Conservation Beyond the Home
Saving water isn't about shorter showers or remembering to turn off the faucet. Commercial buildings also have significant opportunities to reduce consumption, particularly in restrooms, where conventional plumbing fixtures can account for substantial water use.
Replacing conventional flush urinals with waterless alternatives is one way businesses can eliminate urinal flushing water consumption while potentially reducing water and sewer expenses.
Interested in finding out how much water your facility could save? Visit Waterless.com to learn more about waterless urinals and practical approaches to commercial water conservation.
This article builds on an earlier water conservation quiz, with revised questions, explanations, and updated presentation.
