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Science project idea

Bucket versus running tap: measuring water used for daily tasks

The same task, such as brushing teeth, washing hands or washing a plate, uses many times more water when the tap runs than when water is taken from a mug or bucket. Measuring both ways gives the family hard numbers for saving water.

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What it shows

The same task, such as brushing teeth, washing hands or washing a plate, uses many times more water when the tap runs than when water is taken from a mug or bucket. Measuring both ways gives the family hard numbers for saving water.

The science

A household tap delivers about 6 to 10 litres a minute. When it runs while a person brushes or scrubs, most of that water goes down the drain unused. Taking water in a mug or bucket makes the amount visible and limits it to what the task needs. Measuring the tap's flow rate once, then timing each task, lets you calculate the water used without catching it all.

Materials

Cost: free. Many items come from home or from waste; spare parts such as LEDs, motors and wire are in the store.

  • A bucket with litre marks, or a measuring jug
  • A mug
  • A stopwatch
  • A tally sheet with columns for task, method and litres
  • A chart paper

Safety

This project uses safe, everyday materials. Still, read the rules below with a parent before you start.

Never use mains electricity: power models with cells, batteries or a low-voltage adapter. Sharp and hot tools, flames and lab chemicals need an adult or your teacher beside you. Keep magnets, button cells and small parts away from young children, and wash your hands after making.

All the safety rules

Step by step

8 steps. Do them in order, and test each part before you go on to the next. Write what you notice in a notebook as you go.

  1. Find the tap's flow: run it fully into the bucket for 30 seconds and read the litres; double it for litres per minute.

  2. Brush your teeth with the tap running as usual and time how long the tap is on; multiply by the flow rate.

  3. Next day brush using one mug of water; measure the mug.

  4. Repeat both ways for washing hands and for washing four plates.

  5. Record each task, method and litres in the tally sheet.

  6. Work out the saving per task and multiply by the number of times the family does it in a day.

  7. Multiply the daily saving by 30 for a monthly figure.

  8. Draw a bar chart of running-tap litres beside mug-or-bucket litres for each task.

What you should see

Brushing with the tap running typically uses 5 to 10 litres against half a litre from a mug; a family of four can save well over 1,000 litres a month on three tasks.

Viva questions

A teacher or a judge will ask how it works. Try to answer each question before you open it, then compare.

1About how much water does a tap deliver per minute?

About 6 to 10 litres.

2Why does a mug save water?

You use only what you pour, and nothing runs down the drain unused.

3How did you find the litres without catching all the water?

By measuring the flow rate once and multiplying by the time the tap was on.

4Which task saved the most?

Usually brushing or plate washing, because the tap stays on longest.

Free ebook: Viva Questions for Science Projects

Take it further

Measure a bucket bath against a shower and add it to the chart.

Change one thing, measure what happens, and add a table or chart of your readings: that is what turns a model into your own investigation.

Free ebooks for this project

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