In the United States, each person uses about 100 gallons of water per day at home. This includes typical direct uses of water such as toilet flushing, showering, and watering the lawn. However, including indirect use of water from our diet, transportation, and products purchased, the average American lifestyle consumes about 2,000 gallons of water a day per capita. For this assignment, use this water footprint calculator to calculate your daily water use.
Be honest with your assessment and be as detailed as possible when calculating your water footprint.
For this assignment:
- When you are done, submit a screenshot of your water footprint calculation along with a list of changes (both direct and indirect use of water) you are willing to make to conserve water, or justify why if no changes are needed.
- Provide a brief reflection on how you felt about the outcome of the assessment.
- Use APA formatting for this assignment.
Due: Sunday, 11:59 p.m. (Pacific time)
Points: 50
Expert Solution Preview
Introduction:
As a medical professor, it is important to educate future healthcare providers about the impact of our daily lives on the environment in order to promote sustainable living and reduce our carbon footprint. This assignment will give students an opportunity to assess their daily water usage and make changes to conserve water.
Answer:
1. When submitting a screenshot of their water footprint calculation and a list of changes they are willing to make to conserve water, students should consider both direct and indirect use of water. Direct use includes activities like showering, toilet flushing, and watering the lawn, while indirect use includes water used in the production of the food we eat, transportation, and products we purchase. Students may consider taking shorter showers, using a low-flow toilet or faucet, and buying products with sustainable packaging as possible changes. However, it is important for students to be honest with themselves in assessing their water usage and only commit to realistic changes that they can maintain long-term.
2. In providing a brief reflection on their assessment, students may express surprise at the amount of water they use in their daily lives. They may also feel motivated to make changes to their daily routines to conserve water and reduce their impact on the environment. Students may connect their findings to healthcare by recognizing the importance of preserving natural resources for providing clean water and promoting overall health and well-being of communities.
3. When formatting their assignment according to APA style, students should ensure that they are following all guidelines for citing sources, formatting the title page, and organizing their work according to headings and subheadings as appropriate. Students may consult a resource like the Purdue Writing Lab or the APA Style website for guidance.
