You will have to determine how long you are in the shower and how many gallons flow through the showerhead per minute.

To determine the length of the shower a simple poll may suffice but to determine clear data one way to do it is to use the calculations sheet by using a timer or having someone else time you (this avoids cheating). No restrictions should be made prior, the idea is to get clear data if you go this route. 

Once you know you can begin the math!

• Showers use a good amount of water

• Utilizing low flow showers can significantly reduce water use over time. 

• Discovering how long our showers are and aiming to be more mindful to reduce the amount of time we spend in the shower and reducing water use.

• Water supplies are limited.

• Unnecessary water use puts a burden on the environment.

• Data sheet

• Calculator

• Pencil

• Some way to set a timer

  • Cell phone/or other timer applications

  • Stop watch 

• Water meter if available

• Using the information on the data sheets determine how much water was used per toothbrushing and then try and determine an average based on the abilities of the group or individual.  

• This may mean that you eliminate fractions or decimals. 

• Then start the discussion of how much time is needed to shower just to get clean. This is 5-10 minutes.  

• Shower-head flow is not regulated and the average amount of water that flows is 5gpm in a residential shower.  

• Low Flow showers use 2.5 on average which is 1/2 the amount. The savings with a low flow shower-head is substantial! Without low flow for 10 minutes is 50 gallons of water per shower, without is 25! When you multiply for 365 days the total is 9,125 gallons per person! This obviously changes if the shower time is considerably longer.  This can be an exponential number by including members of a household, classroom, school, community.  

• Keep in mind that this would decrease the energy needed to make the water potable, travel to the residence where the brushing would take place, and the energy for the wastewater to be cleaned.  

• It is important to recognize that even though the water goes down the drain clean when not in use, it still had to be ready for use at al times and it becomes dirty or unusable as soon as it hits the drain. 

• An extension would be to challenge students to get clean but reduce shower times to see how consistent they can become.

• Data may not be accurate if participants are not truthful

• Not all showerheads have GPM or gallons per minute stamped or printed on the fixture.  

  • In this case 5GPM is recommended as it is typically the maximum flow rate. 

Prior to indoor plumbing showering was very rare.  There are records of a water collection device and then a spigot or "showerhead" that might release water, or containers similar to a watering can, but those were not a consistent flow.  People also used naturally running waters like waterfalls if the temperatures allowed. Cleanliness was not a big priority especially since hot water heaters were not available, nor was indoor plumbing.  This would require the carrying of water and stove fuel to heat water and then the transfer of the warm water to a wash basin.  Most people would bathe prior to religious events or services.  The hierarchy of who would bathe first using the same water usually left the babies for last, with water so dirty the saying "Don't throw the baby out with the bath water!" was started. The convenience of modern day showering systems and healthy cleanliness has increased the amount of water used daily by people showering.