American Museum of Natural History – Water
WA.me.10.1.WhatYouCanDo_SCRIPT - Script
What You Can Do
Date: October 9, 2007
What You Can Do Interactive
NOTE:
1) calculated water savings now listed in this color right under each answer. They are adjusted to per
capita gallons saved per day (gpcd). These are the numbers that will feed into the water meter.
2) [bracketed] info is for reference only.
3) Some of the savings numbers will change to reflect concerns that can’t get “0 gpcd” if you get the
answer correct. In other words, the baseline has to change.
4) Gallons are all yellow highlighted so we can easily see where units may have to be translated
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American Museum of Natural History – Water
WA.me.10.1.WhatYouCanDo_SCRIPT - Script
Welcome!
YOUR MISSION:
Conserve water in your home—and fight water pollution!
Next
Where do you live?
A house
An apartment
Start Over
How old are you?
Under 16
16 or older
Start Over
Do you and your family have a car?
yes
no
Start Over
HOW TO PLAY:
Visit different areas in your virtual home, and answer 7 questions about water conservation.
YOUR SCORE:
• The water meter shows how much H2O you’ve saved or wasted.
• The color—clear blue to sludgy brown—shows how well you’ve protected water quality.
• While playing, touch “Your Score” to see how your water savings are adding up!
MORE
LESS
Start Over
START
Touch a bulls-eye to pick a question!
KITCHEN
BATHROOM
UTILITY
Start Over
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WA.me.10.1.WhatYouCanDo_SCRIPT - Script
Start Over
Your Score
BACK
Your Score So Far:
Out of a total of 7 questions, you have answered: XX.
Here’s how much water you saved/wasted: XX gallons [Note: All languages put # before
word for gallons or liters.]
Here’s how well you are protecting water quality: It’s Clean/It’s Dirtier.
You’re doing a good job protecting water quality.
You need to do more to protect your water’s quality.
CONGRATULATIONS. You’re a water star!
Here’s how much water you saved: XX gallons (XX liters)
Number of water quality questions you got right out of 3: X”
Tips to remember
1. Fix leaks around the home.
2. Install water-saving fixtures and devices.
3. Don’t pour chemicals down toilets or storm drains.
4. Take shorter showers, and turn off faucets until you really need the water.
5. Find ways to re-use and recycle water around your home.
6. Eat less meat—and save lots of water!
Reduce your water footprint: Water is used to make everything we buy. And large quantities of
water are used to produce electricity to run appliances. That means buying less stuff and using
less electricity is a GREAT way to conserve water.
[Win,win=]
Congratulations. You're a water star!
Here’s how much water you saved: XX liters/YY gallons [Note: All languages put # before
word for gallons or liters.]
Number of water quality questions you got right out of 3: X
[Win/lose=]
Here's the situation: You saved plenty of water, but you contaminated your local
waterways.
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Here’s how much water you saved: XX gallons
Number of water quality questions you got right out of 3: X”
[lose/win=]
Here's the situation: You wasted lots of water, but you protected your local waterways.
Here’s how much water you wasted: XX gallons
Number of water quality questions you got right out of 3: X
[Lose/lose=]
Yikes! You've wasted loads of water and polluted the local waterways!
If everyone in New York City did the same as you, this is how much water would be
saved/wasted:
In one day: XXX liters (XX gallons)
In one year: XXX liters (XX gallons)
Number of water quality questions you got right out of 3: X
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WA.me.10.1.WhatYouCanDo_SCRIPT - Script
2.
Bathroom
[For Adults/with House or Apartment/ either car or no car] [In the Bathroom/Showerhead Highlighted]
You had a long hard day, and it’s time to get clean. Which is the most water-saving way to bathe?
A. An 8-minute shower with a low-flow showerhead
B. A 5-minute shower with a conventional showerhead
C. Soak as long as you’d like in a bath with the tub three-quarters full
[Answer if they pick A]
You’re a water whiz! Your 8-minute shower used the least water.
[Answer if they pick B]
Not bad, speedy! But if you had a low-flow showerhead, you would save even more!
[Answer if they pick C]
Yikes! That luxurious bath used the most H2O of all.
WATER WISE
When it comes to saving water, you need to do the math:
• A low-flow showerhead uses about 8.3 liters (2.2 gallons) per minute.
(68 liters / 18 gallons for an 8-minute shower)
• A conventional showerhead uses about 19 liters (5 gallons) per minute.
(95 liters / 25 gallons for a 5-minute shower)
• A full bathtub uses about 190 liters (50 gallons).
(So don’t fill it all the way and save water)
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WA.me.10.1.WhatYouCanDo_SCRIPT - Script
3.
Bathroom 1-C. [For Adults/with House or Apartment/ either car or no car]
[In the Bathroom/Showerhead Highlighted]
[Question]
You had a long hard day, and it’s time to get clean. Which is the most water-saving way to bathe?
A. Taking a shower
B. Taking a bath
C. Jumping into a lake to do a little scrub-a-dub-dub
[Answer if they pick A]
You’re a water whiz! A typical shower uses 38 liters (10 gallons) less than a full bath.
[Answer if they pick B]
Yikes! Soaking in the tub uses 38 liters (10 gallons) more than a typical shower.
[Answer if they pick C]
Yikes! This might save water at home, but your soap suds are probably a real no-no for the local
fish and fowl.
WATER WISE
Unless you take VERY long showers, taking a shower uses less water than a bath.
• The average shower—about 8 minutes—uses 150 liters (40 gallons). You can save about
20 liters (5 gallons) for every minute you cut off your shower.
• The average bathtub holds about 190 liters (50 gallons) when full.
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WA.me.10.1.WhatYouCanDo_SCRIPT - Script
5.
2-B. [For Adults/with House or Apartment/ either car or no car]
[In the Bathroom/Showerhead Highlighted]
[Question]
Your old showerhead sprays like a firehose. Could you save water if you replaced it with a new
low-flow model?
A. It’s not worth the trouble. Just switch to taking baths.
B. Definitely. A new, low-flow showerhead could use 75 percent less water.
C. No. Low-flow showerheads are too expensive. It’s not worth it.
[Answer if they pick A]
Not the best plan. You wasted as much as 115 liters (30 gallons) by taking a bath instead of
replacing your water-guzzling showerhead.
[Answer if they pick B]
Good choice! Low flow is the way to go. Without sacrificing water pressure, you can save as
much as 85 liters (22 gallons) of water during just one shower – that’s over 53,000 liters (14,000
gallons) a year for an entire family!
[Answer if they pick C]
Not true! Low-flow showerheads are inexpensive. If you switch, you could easily save as much as
85 liters (22 gallons) during just one shower—that’s over 53,000 liters (14,000 gallons) a year for
entire family – without sacrificing water pressure.
GO LOW
• A low-flow showerhead gives a strong, vigorous shower and can cost as little as $5.
• Low-flow showerheads use just 8.3 liters (2.2 gallons) of water (or less) per minute.
(68 liters / 18 gallons for an average shower of 8 minutes)
• The average tub requires 190 liters (50 gallons) of water to fill.
• “Power” showerheads use as much as 38 liters (10 gallons) of water per minute.
(303 liters / 80 gallons for an 8-minute shower)
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6. [See new quantitative-oriented version on next page.]
3-A. [For Adults/with House or Apartment/ either car or no car]
[In the Bathroom/Showerhead Highlighted]
[Question]
You’ve agreed to cut your shower time by 1 minute. How much water will you save in a year if you
do this—and everyone else in the United States does the same.
A. Enough to fill 100,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools
[An Olympic-sized pool holds 2.5 million liters / 660,253 gallons.]
B. Enough water to fill the volume of the Empire State Building—more than 500 times.
[The Empire State Building’s volume can hold 1 billion liters / 277 million gallons.]
C. Enough to fill 1 trillion glasses of water
[A glass of water holds 8 ounces.]
[Answer if they pick A]
Good guess, but you’ll save much more than that.
[Answer if they pick B]
Good calculating! You’re a water-saving genius.
[Answer if they pick C]
Good guess, but you’ll save much more than that.
DO YOU HAVE AN EXTRA MINUTE?
If everyone in the United States cut their average shower time by just 1 minute—for an entire
year—they would save more than 600 billion liters (160 billon gallons) of water. That’s enough
water to fill:
• Nearly 250,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools
• More than 2.6 trillion glasses of water
• The volume of the Empire State Building—more than 587 times
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10.
LEAK QUESTION 4-C. [For Adults/with House/ either car or no car]
[In the Bathroom/Toilet Highlighted]
[Question]
Hey! Your 30-year-old toilet is running. What’s your next move?
A. Call the plumber and have that toilet fixed.
B. Don’t worry about it. It’s not wasting that much water.
C. Time for a change. Treat yourself to a brand-new low-flow toilet.
[Answer if they pick A]
Good idea. You could save enough water every day to fill your bathtub 5 times. But why not
replace that vintage toilet, too?
[Answer if they pick B]
Not that much? That running toilet could be wasting enough water each day to fill your bathtub 5
times, or more than 341,000 liters (90,000 gallons) a year!
[Answer if they pick C]
Bingo! You just demolished 2 water wasters with 1 new toilet. By replacing that old and leaking
toilet, could save over 100,000 gallons of water a year.
A LEAKY OLD TOILET IS “DOUBLE-TROUBLE”
• If you have to jiggle the handle—or the water in the toilet bowl keeps running for a long
time after you flush—you have a leak. And a leaking toilet is a HUGE water waster—
squandering 110 to 1,100 liters (30 to 3,000 gallons) of water per day.
• Toilets made before 1980 are infamous water guzzlers. By replacing the old toilet with a
new low-flow model, you’ll eliminate the leak AND save 15 to 20 liters (4 to 5 gallons) every
time you flush.
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11. SAME AS Q 34
LEAK QUESTION TOILET 4-D—apartment version. [For Adults/with Apartment/ either car or no car]
[In the Bathroom/Toilet Highlighted]
[Question]
Hey! Your toilet is leaking. What’s your next move?
A. Don’t worry about it. Who’s going to miss a couple of drops of water?
B. Call your building’s superintendent and have that leak fixed.
C. Jiggle the handle after you flush.
[Answer if they pick A]
A couple of drops? That “little” leak is wasting as much as 4,000 cups of water every day!
[Answer if they pick B]
Bingo! By having the leak fixed, you could save enough H2O each day to fill up a bathtub 5 times.
[Answer if they pick C]
This might solve the problem temporarily, but it won’t stop your toilet from wasting water.
DON’T LET A LEAKY TOILET DRIP YOU DRY!
• If you have to jiggle the handle—or the water in the toilet bowl keeps running for a long
time after you flush—you have a leak. And leaky toilets are HUGE water wasters. Just
one “running” toilet can squander 950 liters (250 gallons) of water per day.
12.
5-A. [For Adults/with House or Apartment/ either car or no car]
LEAK QUESTION – FAUCET [In the Bathroom/Sink Faucet Highlighted]—[Query: Is leaky faucet
meant for kitchen sink?]
[Question]
The faucet on the bathroom sink is dripping. You should:
A. Count the number of drips per minute. If it’s less than 30, don’t worry about it.
B. Put a pan under the faucet. Use the water that drips into the pan for drinking or cooking.
C. Call a plumber to fix the leak.
[Answer if they pick A]
Stop counting, and call the plumber. That drip is wasting water.
[Answer if they pick B]
Making use of the leaking water is a good idea—but you should fix that drip!
[Answer if they pick C]
Right! And make sure to install a low-flow aerator when the faucet is fixed.
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FAUCET FACTS
• Drips add up fast. Thirty drips per minute adds up to 9.1 liters (2.4 gallons) of water wasted
every day—and nearly 3,400 liters (900 gallons) every year.
• Get extra bang for your buck. When you fix a leaking faucet, put in a low-flow aerator—
these low-cost faucet attachments mix air into the water and significantly cut the amount
of water used.
13.
5-B. [For Adults/with House or Apartment/ either car or no car]
[In the Bathroom/Sink Faucet Highlighted]
[Question]
What should you do while brushing your teeth?
A. Leave the water running. This is the method recommended by most dentists.
B. Keep the water off until it is time to rinse.
C. Turn the water on full blast and crank up some tunes to inspire vigorous brushing.
[Answer if they pick A]
Sorry. Dentists recommend flossing—not wasting water by leaving the tap running.
[Answer if they pick B]
You’re a water conservation hero. Don’t forget to tell your friends to turn the tap off, too.
[Answer if they pick C]
Sounds fun—but please turn off the water while brushing.
BETTER BRUSHING
• About 11 liters (3 gallons) of water are wasted every time you leave the tap open while
brushing your teeth.
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14.
6. [For Adults/with House or Apartment/ either car or no car]
[In the Bathroom/Trashcan or Medicine Cabinet Highlighted]
[Question]
Whoa! Your medicine cabinet is jammed with old prescription drugs. What’s the best way to
dispose of these items?
A. Flush your old medicines down the toilet.
B. Take them to your pharmacy or a hazardous waste facility for disposal.
C. Wrap them up carefully and put them in the garbage.
[Answer if they pick A]
Ugh. You should not have flushed those meds. Your water meter is turning brown.
[Answer if they pick B]
You picked the best method. Good job at preventing pollution!
[Answer if they pick C]
Better than flushing—but not the best method.
PHARM POLLUTION
When flushed down the toilet, chemicals from prescription medicines pollute waterways and
injure aquatic wildlife. Here’s how to handle them:
• Take your old medicines to a pharmacy for recycling OR
• Dispose of them at a hazardous waste facility operated by your sanitation department. (If
no other method is available, old medicines should be sealed in containers, bagged, and
placed in the garbage.)
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15.
1-A. [For Adults/with House or Apartment/ either car or no car]
[In the Kitchen/Kitchen Sink Highlighted]
[Question]
You don’t own a dishwasher, and you wash dishes by hand. What’s the best way to get them
clean?
A. With the water running, scouring each dish with antibacterial dishwashing liquid.
B. Washing dishes in a sink filled with soapy water and then quickly rinsing them off.
C. Using a high-velocity stream of water to blast off any remnants of your dinner.
[Answer if they pick A]
You’re wasting water—up to 27 liters (7 gallons) per minute. And you’re overdoing the cleaning a
bit too. Antibacterial dish soap doesn’t clean any better than soap and hot water—and emerging
evidence shows it harms aquatic wildlife.
[Answer if they pick B]
Good method. You saved up to 27 liters (7 gallons) a minute by not running the tap.
[Answer if they pick C]
Take it easy! You’re washing dishes, not putting out a fire. Running the tap wastes up to 27 liters
(7 gallons) a minute.
WISER WASHING
Running the tap while you wash dishes wastes lots of water—8 to 27 liters (2 to 7 gallons) every
minute, depending on your faucet. Here’s the most water-saving way to hand wash:
1. Fill a sink or dishpan with soapy water, and turn the tap off.
2. Wash the cleanest dishes first (so the water doesn’t need to be replaced).
3. After cleaning, quickly rinse dishes in bunches—not one at a time.
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16.
1-B. [For Adults/with House/ either car or no car]
[In the Kitchen/Kitchen Sink Highlighted]
[Question]
Your plumber says you should install aerators on all your faucets. Should you follow his advice?
A. Don’t bother. Aerators are water-wasting luxury fixtures.
B. Aerators allow you to make your own carbonated water—right out of the tap. They’re cool,
but not necessary.
C. Yes. Aerators are cheap attachments that mix air into water, so less is used. You decide to
get them for your faucets.
[Answer if they pick A]
Sorry. Aerators are water-saving faucet attachments. Without them, you’re wasting more than
6,000 liters (1,600 gallons) a year.
[Answer if they pick B]
Sorry. Aerators are water-saving faucet attachments. Without them, you’re wasting more than
6,000 liters (1,600 gallons) a year.
[Answer if they pick C]
Great idea! Installing aerators will save you volumes—more than 6,000 liters (1,600 gallons) a
year.
HOW MUCH WATER CAN AN AERATOR SAVE?
• Installing aerators on your faucets is one of the cheapest and easiest ways to save water
around the house.
• Faucets without aerators use 11 to 27 liters (3 to 7 gallons) of water per minute—while
faucets with aerators use 8.3 liters (2.2 gallons) per minute and sometimes even less.
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17.
QUALITY 1-C. [For Adults/with House or Apartment/ either car or no car]
[In the Kitchen//Sink or Drain Highlighted]
[Question]
You’ve just fried up a pound of bacon for breakfast. What should you do with the grease left in the
pan?
A. Quick! Pour it down the drain before it solidifies.
B. Mix the grease with hot water to make sure it slides through your drain pipes.
C. Pour the grease into a non-recyclable container. Then put it in the garbage after it cools.
[Answer if they pick A]
Yikes! That’s not a good plan. As soon as the grease cools, it will solidify.
[Answer if they pick B]
That’s not a good plan. As soon as the hot water cools, the grease will solidify.
[Answer if they pick C]
You got it right, chef!
A PAIN IN THE DRAIN
• Grease and cooking oil can clog pipes and cause sewer blockages.
• If grease leaches into surrounding waterways, it reduces water quality and can harm
aquatic wildlife.
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18.
2-A. [For Adults/with House/ either car or no car]
[In the Kitchen/Dishwasher Highlighted]
[Question]
Although your dishwasher is not from the Stone Age, you did buy it when Reagan was president.
Is it time for an upgrade?
A. Absolutely! Replace it with a new water-saving model.
B. Naah… just get rid of it—and don’t bother buying a new one. You’ll save more water handwashing your dishes.
C. Not necessary. Keep you old dishwasher going. Older models use the same amount of
water as newer ones.
[Answer if they pick A]
Correct. A new machine will use half as much water.
[Answer if they pick B]
Actually, you’ll save more water by using a machine!
[Answer if they pick C]
Not true. New models are significantly more water-efficient.
MORE WITH MACHINES
• New dishwashers use water very efficiently—less than 38 liters (10 gallons) per load
compared with 53 liters (14 gallons) used by pre-1990 machines.
• When fully loaded, machines are far more water-efficient than hand-washing.
• TIP: Don’t pre-rinse your dishes before putting them in the dishwasher—that alone can
use 57 liters (15 gallons) of water. Just scrape them off—and let the dishwasher do the
rest. They’ll be just as clean, and you’ll save tons (literally) of water.
19.
2-B. [For Adults/with House or Apartment/ either car or no car]
[In the Kitchen/Dishwasher Highlighted]
[Question]
What’s the most effective way to use your dishwasher?
A. Don’t pre-rinse dishes in the sink. Run the washer when it’s half full—so water jets reach all
the nooks and crannies.
B. Run a full load without pre-rinsing. Let the dishwasher handle the sticky bits.
C. Pre-rinse in the sink, and only run the dishwasher when you have a full load.
[Answer if they pick A]
Learn patience: Wait until the dishwasher is full.
[Answer if they pick B]
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You’ve mastered the art of dishwashing.
[Answer if they pick C]
You’re right about running a full load. But by pre-rinsing, you gobble up all your water savings.
THE DIRT ON DISHWASHING
• Always run a full load. Running partial loads in the dishwasher wastes water. Most models
use the same amount of water whether you wash 1 dish or 50.
• Don’t pre-rinse dishes. Just scrape them off into the trash—and let the dishwasher do the
rest. They’ll be just as clean, and you’ll save tons (literally) of water.
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20.
2-C. [For Adults/with House or Apartment/ either car or no car]
[In the Kitchen/Dishwasher Highlighted]
[Question]
What uses more water? Washing dishes in a dishwasher or washing them by hand?
A. Granny always says that when it comes to saving water, hand-washing beats a machine. So
use a little elbow grease to clean your dishes.
B. A dishwasher typically uses less water than washing by hand—so load up that machine.
C. It’s a tie. Washing dishes by hand and washing them in a machine use equal amounts of
water.
[Answer if they pick A]
Sorry Granny, but studies show the opposite. Hand-washing requires more water than a machine.
[Answer if they pick B]
True! You picked a winner. A machine requires less water than hand-washing.
[Answer if they pick C]
No tie. Machines win this contest.
HANDS DOWN
• As water savers, machines beat hand-washing every time. Washing a set of dishes by
hand typically uses a minimum of 61 liters (16 gallons) of water—while the average
machine uses less than 38 liters (10 gallons) per load.
• Use your dishwasher efficiently.
o Don’t pre-rinse dishes before putting them in the dishwasher. The machine cleans
the sticky bits for you—and pre-rinsing wastes about 57 liters (15 gallons) of water.
o Always run a full load. Most models use the same amount of water for 1 dish or 50.
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21.
3. [For Adults/with House or Apartment/ either car or no car]
[In the Kitchen/Bottle of Water Highlighted]
[Question]
You’re thirsty. And you want a nice drink of H2O. What to do?
A. Pour a glass from a pitcher of filtered tap water.
B. Open a liter of your favorite brand of bottled water.
[Answer if they pick A]
Excellent choice.
[Answer if they pick B]
Time to re-think your drinking habits!
TAP VS. BOTTLED
The world is hooked on bottled water, with more than 150 billion liters (40 billion gallons) sold
annually. But it’s not an environmentally friendly choice.
• Manufacturing a plastic bottle uses 3 times as much water as the bottle contains.
• Plastic water bottles generate over 1 million tons of trash each year.
• Tip: Don’t like the taste of tap? Run it through a carbon filter, and it will taste as good as
bottled and probably be just as healthy.
22.
4. [For Adults/with House or Apartment/ either car or no car]
[In the Kitchen/Refrigerator Highlighted]
[Question]
Did you know water is used to produce everything we eat? And that you can conserve the world’s
water by changing your diet? You’ll give up 1 serving per week of which of the following to save
the most water?
A. A glass of milk
B. A one-third-pound hamburger
C. A quarter pound of chicken
D. An apple
[Answer if they pick A]
Close! But the hamburger requires the most water to produce.
[Answer if they pick B]
Yes! Beef is the biggest water guzzling crop to produce.
[Answer if they pick C]
Close! Producing chicken requires plenty of water. (But it’s water-saving compared to beef.)
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[Answer if they pick D]
Didn’t your mother tell you to eat your vegetables every day? Fruits and vegetables require less
water to produce than meat and dairy products.
VIRTUAL WATER
Here’s how much water is used in the food-production process:
• One-third pound of beef: 2400 liters (634 gallons)
• Quarter pound of chicken: 480 liters (126 gallons)
• Glass of milk: 190 liters (50 gallons)
• An apple: 70 liters (18.5 gallons)
• Raising cattle for beef production is the most water-demanding agriculture because of all
the water that is first used to raise the grain to feed to the cattle.
You can reduce your “water footprint” by changing your diet, especially by eating less meat. You
could fill your bathtub 12 times with the amount of water needed to make just one burger!
23.
5. [For Adults/with House or Apartment/ either car or no car]
[In the Kitchen/Kitchen Drain Highlighted or Container of Soap on Sink]
[Question]
Antibacterial products are very popular right now. Their key ingredient is the chemical triclosan,
which is used in many soaps, dishwashing liquids, toothpastes, etc. If you’re concerned about
water quality, should you use them?
A. No. Antibacterial products with triclosan are no better than soap and harm aquatic wildlife.
B. Yes. Antibacterial products with triclosan are more hygienic, keep water free of bacteria,
and have no negative effect on aquatic wildlife.
C. Yes, and they have entertainment value, too. (Triclosan has been shown to cause
laboratory mice to glow in the dark.)
[Answer if they pick A]
Correct. Triclosan is no better than soap at removing germs and may harm the environment.
[Answer if they pick B]
False. Triclosan is no better than soap at removing germs and is considered a pollutant.
[Answer if they pick C]
Not true. Triclosan does not cause mice to glow, but it does pollute waterways.
ANTI-BACTERIAL OR ANTI-ENVIRONMENT?
• The American Medical Association does NOT recommend using antibacterial products
containing triclosan in the home. Soap and hot water are just as good at killing germs.
• When antibacterial products go down the drain to sewage treatment plants, triclosan is not
completely removed from wastewater and builds up in the environment.
• Triclosan has been shown to disrupt the reproductive cycle of frogs.
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24.
6. Cleaning products [For Adults/with House or Apartment/ either car or no car]
[In Laundry/Cleaning Products Highlighted]
[Question]
The sink in the laundry room is grimy. How are you going to clean it?
A. Buy a powerful cleanser at the supermarket, and blast that dirt!
B. Scrub it out with baking soda and vinegar.
C. Use bleach, water, and a little elbow grease.
[Answer if they pick A]
Time to re-think your cleaning strategy. You would do a better job of protecting local water quality
if you used a less-toxic cleanser.
[Answer if they pick B]
Good idea! By using a nontoxic cleanser, you helped protect local water quality.
[Answer if they pick C]
Bleach is a no-no! You would do a better job of protecting local water quality if you used a lesstoxic cleanser.
SAFE SUBSTITUTES FOR TOXIC CLEANSERS
The chemicals in many household cleaners are very harsh and some are toxic. Those used to
clean toilets, showers, and sinks go straight down the drain—and ultimately into local waterways.
Safe substitutes for commercial cleansers include:
• Vinegar
• Baking soda
• Borax
• Liquid Soap
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Laundry
25.
1-A. [For Adults/with House/ either car or no car]
[In Laundry/Washing Machine Highlighted]
[Question]
Hmmm . . . your washing machine is at least 16 years old. Would replacing it with a newer model
help you save water?
A. Definitely! Get rid of that old clunker.
B. Don’t bother. It won’t make any difference.
C. Keep it as long as possible. Old washing machines are more water-saving than new ones.
[Answer if they pick A]
Right! A new washing machine uses about HALF as much water as an older one.
[Answer if they pick B]
Sorry. That old washing machine is a water waster.
[Answer if they pick C]
Actually, old washing machines are huge water wasters. But your instincts to conserve were
good. Older appliances sometimes work just fine—and replacing them isn’t always necessary,
and can use even more resources.
A WINNING WASH
• In most homes, washing clothes uses more water than any other activity—except flushing
the toilet. But you can conserve water by replacing your old washing machine. New waterefficient washers use just 68 to 95 liters (18 to 25 gallons) of water per wash, while old
water-guzzling ones use 152 to 208 liters (40 to 55 gallons) per load.
• Here’s another tip: Only run the clothes washer when you have a full load——it’s the most
water-saving way to go.
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26.1-B. [For Adults/with Apartment/ either car or no car]
[In the Laundry/Washing Machine Highlighted]
[Question]
Your apartment building’s washing machine is almost as old as you are. The best way to do
laundry is to:
A. run a half load
B. run a full load
C. run to your building’s super and get that old clunker replaced with a new model
[Answer if they pick A]
A half load uses a lot of water, and you have to wash twice as often. Next time, wait until your
laundry basket is full.
[Answer if they pick B]
Doing a full load is always a good water-saving plan. But with a new, more efficient machine,
you’ll save even more!
[Answer if they pick C]
Super! A new washing machine uses about HALF as much water as an older one. And if you
always run full loads, you’ll save even more.
FILL IT UP!
• The less often you do laundry, the more water you’ll save. It’s best to wash a full load of
clothes. And if you have to wash a smaller load, adjust the settings on the machine so less
water is used.
• New water-efficient washers use just 68 to 95 liters (18 to 25 gallons) of water per load,
while old water-guzzling ones use 152 to 208 liters (40 to 55 gallons).
28.
1-B. [For Adults/with House/ either car or no car]
[In Yard/Lawn Highlighted]
Keeping lawns and gardens green in summer can swallow up more than half the water used in
homes. Which of the following is a good way to conserve? HINT: Only one is NOT a good idea.
A. Apply mulch to garden plants and lawns.
B. Water in the early morning or late in the afternoon, not in the heat of the day.
C. Use a sprinkler system mid-day that sprays a fine mist, not big drops.
D. Water lawns deeply, but less frequently.
[Answer if they pick A]
Good answer! Putting a layer of mulch around plants slows evaporation.
[Answer if they pick B]
Good answer! Don’t water in the heat of the day. As much as 30 percent will be lost to
evaporation.
[Answer if they pick C]
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Sorry, much of that fine mist will be lost to evaporation. To save water, you need a sprinkler that
sprays BIG drops.
[Answer if they pick D]
Good answer! Water deeply to develop your lawn’s roots and reduce the need for frequent
watering.
CONSERVING OUTSIDE
Evaporation and runoff from poor watering methods can waste 30 percent or more of the water
applied to your garden and lawn. Here are four ways to water your lawn and garden more
efficiently:
• Put a layer of mulch around plants to slow evaporation.
• Don’t water in the heat of the day.
• Use sprinklers that spray BIG drops. A spray of fine mist evaporates in the air—before
ever hitting your lawn.
• Water lawns deeply, but less frequently to encourage root growth.
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WA.me.10.1.WhatYouCanDo_SCRIPT - Script
29. 2. [For Adults/with House or Apartment/ either car or no car]
[In the Yard/Rain barrel Highlighted]
[Question]
Hey, what’s that barrel in the yard?
A. An eco-friendly outhouse
B. A swimming pool for squirrels
C. A rainwater harvesting system
[Answer if they pick A]
That’s an interesting idea—but this barrel is for collecting water not getting rid of it.
[Answer if they pick B]
That’s an interesting idea—but incorrect. Although squirrels can do the doggie paddle, they’re not
fond of swimming.
[Answer if they pick C]
Good work, detective. If you collect and use rainwater, you can reduce your water footprint and
save money.
IT’S A RAINWATER HARVESTING SYSTEM
• Capturing and using rainwater is a great way to conserve—and to save money on your
water bill. The rain running off your roof and into downspouts can be redirected into a
storage barrel or tank. The collected water can then be used to keep lawns and gardens
green.
• Rainwater harvesting also helps reduce the load on our sewers from stormwater.
• In the New York City area, an 1,800-square-foot roof can collect more than 167,000 liters
(44,000 gallons) of water a year!
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WA.me.10.1.WhatYouCanDo_SCRIPT - Script
30. SAME AS Q 45
[For Adults/with House/ either car or no car]
[In the Yard/Driveway Highlighted]
[Question]
When your driveway gets dirty, you wash it with a hose. Is there a better way?
A. Yes. You can sweep it.
B. No. Stick with the hose.
C. Absolutely! Use a power washer to blast the grime on your driveway back to the
Pleistocene Era.
[Answer if they pick A]
You just swept up the competition.
[Answer if they pick B]
Sorry, the hose uses the most water. Sweeping is the most water-saving way to go.
[Answer if they pick C]
Yikes! That’s overkill but more efficient than a garden hose. Sweeping is the most water-saving
way to go.
A CLEAN SWEEP
• A typical garden hose uses 20 to 75 liters (5 to 20 gallons) of water a minute. That means
just hosing down your driveway can send more than 570 liters (150 gallons) of water down
the drain.
• Save water by sweeping—not washing—the driveway and walkways in front of your
house.
• If you must use water, a pressure washer uses about 1/5 the water of a garden hose.
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WA.me.10.1.WhatYouCanDo_SCRIPT - Script
31. [For Adults/with House/ either car or no car]
[In the Yard//Lawn Highlighted] [Note: This is the xeriscaping question re-tooled.]
[Question]
The average lawn requires an enormous amount of watering—about 380,000 liters (10,000 gallons)
a year. How can you lower your water use in the yard?
A. Water your lawn more frequently, but less deeply.
B. Mow the grass very short.
C. Eliminate your lawn, or reduce its size. Then replace it with drought-resistant plants and
grasses.
[Answer if they pick A]
Definitely not recommended! Lots of H2O is lost to evaporation when you water more frequently
and less deeply.
[Answer if they pick B]
Definitely not recommended! Shorter grass requires more water to keep green.
[Answer if they pick C]
Kudos! You’re a trend-setter. Drought-resistant plants are HUGE water savers.
LOSING YOUR LAWN
• Replacing lawns with drought-resistant plants can cut your yard’s water needs by 50
percent.
• If you plant native and easy-to-maintain shrubs, wildflowers, and grasses that are adapted
to your area’s soil and climate, you’ll save water AND have less work in the garden.
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32.
1. [For Adults/with House or Apartment/ with car]
[In the Street /Car? or Sewer Grate? Highlighted]
[Question]
As a do-it-yourselfer, you just changed the oil in your car. How should you dispose of the used
oil?
A. Seal it in a clean plastic container and take it to a service station or sanitation facility that
recycles used motor oil.
B. Dump it down a sewer grate to provide lubrication for your local sewage treatment plant.
C. Put the used oil in a carefully sealed container, and place it in the garbage.
[Answer if they pick A]
You’re the mechanic of the year!
[Answer if they pick B]
Ouch! You just sent toxic heavy metals into your local waterways.
[Answer if they pick C]
Sorry, even oil that is sealed in containers may leach out of landfills and into local waterways.
DON’T MIX OIL AND WATER
• A single quart of motor oil that gets into lakes, rivers, and bays can contaminate 3.8
million liters (1 million gallons) of water.
• The good news is that old motor oil can be recycled and reused—saving the environment,
protecting drinking water supplies, and conserving oil resources.
• Take your used motor oil to a service station or sanitation facility that recycles oil.
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33.
2. [For Adults/with House or Apartment/ with car]
[In the Street/Car Highlighted]
[Question]
Someone just wrote “WASH ME” in the dust and dirt on your car’s windshield. What is the most
water-saving way to wash?
A. Go to a commercial car wash that recycles water.
B. Wash it yourself with the hose running to dilute the dirt before it runs into the sewer.
C. Wash your car with a rag and a bucket of soapy water. Use a hose with a shut-off nozzle
only to rinse.
[Answer if they pick A]
Right! Going to a commercial car wash that recycles is the most water-saving method.
[Answer if they pick B]
Whoops. By leaving the hose running, you just wasted lots of water.
[Answer if they pick C]
That’s a great idea—but a commercial car wash that recycles is the most water-saving option.
CLEAN YOUR CAR WITH A CLEAN CONSCIENCE
• Find a commercial car wash that recycles water. They can use significantly less water than
is needed to wash a car at home. They also remove some of the pollutants before sending
dirty water down the drain.
• If you do wash your car at home, don’t leave the hose running. Use the hose only to rinse,
and attach a shut-off nozzle to control the flow.
• Cut back on the number of times you wash your car each month.
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Kids Questions
34. SAME AS Q 11
1. [For Kids/with House or Apartment/ either car or no car]
[In the Bathroom/Toilet Highlighted]
[Question]
Hey, do you hear that watery, whooshing sound? Your toilet keeps flushing for a long time after
you push the handle. What’s your next move?
A. Don’t worry about it. Who’s going to miss a little water?
B. Tell your parents the toilet needs to be fixed.
C. Jiggle the handle after you flush.
[Answer if they pick A]
A little water? That toilet is leaking enough H2O each day to fill a bathtub 5 times!
[Answer if they pick B]
Bingo! By having the toilet fixed, you could save enough H2O each day to fill a bathtub 5 times.
[Answer if they pick C]
Nice try. Jiggling the handle helps. But that leaking toilet is still wasting LOTS of water.
DON’T LET A LEAKY (OR SNEAKY) TOILET DRIP YOU DRY
A “running” toilet is a GINORMOUS water waster—leaking up to 950 liters (250 gallons) a day.
However, some leaky toilets don’t make a “running” sound. Here’s how to unmask a sneaky leak:
• Lift the lid off the tank, and put 10 drops of food coloring in the water.
• If water in the toilet bowl changes color, you have a sneaky leak.
• Report your test findings to an adult. Fixing that sneaky leak could save hundreds of liters
(gallons) a day!
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35. 2. [For Kids/with House or Apartment/ either car or no car]
[In the Bathroom/Sink Faucet Highlighted]
[Question]
What should you do while brushing your teeth?
A. Leave the water running. This is the method recommended by most dentists.
B. Keep the water off until it is time to rinse.
C. Turn the water on full blast and crank up some Black Eyed Peas to inspire high-energy
brushing.
[Answer if they pick A]
Sorry. Dentists recommend flossing—not wasting water by leaving the tap running.
[Answer if they pick B]
You’re a water conservation hero. Don’t forget to remind your parents to turn the tap off, too.
[Answer if they pick C]
Sounds fun—but turn the water off while brushing.
BETTER BRUSHING
• About 11 liters (3 gallons) of water are wasted each time you leave the water running while
brushing your teeth.
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36.
3. [For Kids/with House or Apartment/ either car or no car]
[In the bathroom/bathtub Highlighted]
[Question]
Your little brother is about to take a bath. How high should you fill the tub?
A. To the brim. Make sure there’s enough room for him and a giant squid.
B. Halfway—just enough room for him and a giant rubber duckie.
C. To the top. Then pull the plug and keep the water running so it feels like a whirlpool.
[Answer if they pick A]
Your brother doesn’t need all that bathwater. (The giant squid can swim in the ocean.) You just
wasted 95 liters (25 gallons).
[Answer if they pick B]
Right! Even grownups can fit in a half-full tub—but they may not have room for their rubber
duckies. You just saved 95 liters (25 gallons).
[Answer if they pick C]
You just failed Water Conservation 101. Letting the water run while in the tub is very wasteful.
RUB A DUB DUB, DON’T WASTE WATER IN THE TUB!
• A half tub of water is all anyone needs to get clean.
• Fill the tub halfway and you use just 95 liters (25 gallons), compared to 190 liters (50
gallons) for a full tub.
• If you fill the bath halfway every day, you’ll save enough in a year to fill over 100,000
glasses of water.
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38.
4-A. [For Kids/with House or Apartment/ either car or no car]
[In the Bathroom/Showerhead Highlighted]
[Question]
You’re thinking of ways to save water. Your friend suggests cutting your shower time by 1 minute
every day. Does it sound like a good plan?
A. A minute is too short. It won’t make any difference.
B. Sure. You’ll give it a try.
[Answer if they pick A]
Think again! A minute can make a big difference. If you cut 1 minute off your daily shower for a
year, you could save over 3,000 liters (800 gallons).
[Answer if they pick B]
Excellent! If you cut 1 minute off your daily shower for a year, you could save over 3,000 liters
(800 gallons).
SHORTER-SHOWER POWER
If everyone in the United States cut their average shower time by 1 minute—for an entire year—
they would save more than 600 billion liters (160 billon gallons) of water. That’s enough water to
fill:
• Nearly 250,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools
• More than 2.6 trillion glasses of water
• The volume of the Empire State Building—more than 587 times
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39.
5. [For Kids/with House or Apartment/ either car or no car]
[In the Kitchen/Kitchen Sink or Can of Paint Highlighted]
[Question]
You just made a birdhouse for a school project, and you painted it bright purple. What should you
do with the unused paint?
A. Pour it down the kitchen sink.
B. Hmm … this stuff could be dangerous. You need to learn how to dispose of it properly.
C. Pour it onto the ground or into the sewer.
[Answer if they pick A]
Eek! Many paints are toxic and can pollute waterways.
[Answer if they pick B]
Right! Many paints are toxic and can pollute waterways. Keeping unused paint out of our water
supply is the best thing to do.
[Answer if they pick C]
Eek! Many paints are toxic and can pollute waterways.
PAINT CAN POLLUTE
• Never pour any kind of paint into a toilet or garbage can, down a sink or sewer grate, or
onto the ground.
• If you have leftover paint, save it for a future project OR bring it to your community’s
household hazardous waste collection. Otherwise contact your local sanitation
department about safe disposal.
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40.
6. [For Kids/with House or Apartment/ either car or no car]
[In the Kitchen/Sink Faucet Highlighted]
[Question]
The faucet on the kitchen sink is dripping. You should:
A. Count the number of drips per minute. If it’s less than 30, don’t worry about it.
B. Put a pan under the faucet. Use the water that drips into the pan to make ice cubes or fill
your water cannon.
C. Tell you parents to have the leak fixed.
[Answer if they pick A]
Stop counting, and tell your parents. That drip is wasting water.
[Answer if they pick B]
Catching and using the leaking water is a good idea—but tell your parents to fix that drip!
[Answer if they pick C]
Right, water whiz! Tell your parents to fix that drip.
FAUCET FACTS
• Even small drips add up fast. Thirty drips per minute adds up to 9.1 liters (2.4 gallons) of
water wasted every day—or almost 3,400 liters (900 gallons) a year if the faucet continues
to drip.
• Leaks are some of the biggest water wasters around your home. So get them fixed fast!
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41.
7. [For Kids/with House or Apartment/ either car or no car]
[In the Kitchen//Pan on Stove or Sink Drain Highlighted]
[Question]
Your dad just cooked bacon for breakfast, and it’s your turn to clean up. What should you do with
the grease left in the pan?
A. Pour it down the drain. Bacon grease is excellent food for the albino alligators living in the
sewers.
B. Mix the grease with hot water to make sure it slides through your drain pipes.
C. Put the grease into an empty yogurt container. Then put it in the garbage can.
[Answer if they pick A]
Nope. Albino alligators hate the taste of grease. And as soon as the grease cools, it will solidify.
[Answer if they pick B]
Not a good plan. The grease will turn solid when it cools. As soon as the hot water cools, the
grease will solidify.
[Answer if they pick C]
You got it right! You should never pour grease down the drain.
A PAIN IN THE DRAIN
• Grease clogs pipes and blocks sewers.
• If grease gets into rivers and bays, it pollutes the water and can harm wildlife.
• And by the way, there are no alligators in the sewers.
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42.
8. [For Kids/with House or Apartment/ either car or no car]
[In the Laundry/Washing Machine Highlighted]
[Question]
You’re helping with the laundry. When you use the washing machine, you should put in:
A. A half load of clothes to make sure everything gets super clean
B. A full load of clothes
C. Just a couple of dirty socks and your favorite T-shirt for school tomorrow
[Answer if they pick A]
Sorry. Doing a half load wastes water and will not get your clothes any cleaner.
[Answer if they pick B]
That’s right. Full loads are the most water-wise way to go. Keep saving!
[Answer if they pick C]
What? You just earned a water-waster demerit. Next, time wait until your laundry basket is full.
FILL IT UP
• The less often you do laundry, the more water you’ll save. It’s best to wash a full load of
clothes.
• And if you have to wash a smaller load, adjust the settings on the machine so less water is
used.
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43.
9. [For Kids/with House or Apartment/ either car or no car]
[In the Yard/Rain barrel Highlighted]
[Question]
Hey, what’s that barrel in the yard?
A. An eco-friendly outhouse
B. A swimming pool for squirrels
C. A rainwater harvesting system
[Answer if they pick A]
That’s an interesting idea—but that barrel is for collecting water not getting rid of it.
[Answer if they pick B]
That’s an interesting idea—but totally nutty! Although squirrels can do the doggie paddle, they’re
not fond of swimming.
[Answer if they pick C]
Good work, detective. If your family collects and uses rainwater, you can save thousands of liters
(gallons) of tap water every year.
IT’S A RAINWATER HARVESTING SYSTEM
• You can collect rainwater that hits your roof by redirecting downspouts into rain barrels or
tanks. The water can be used to keep your garden green, to wash your car, or for playing.
• Since rain is free, your family will save money on its water bill.
• Plus, by using rainwater instead of tap water, you will help conserve the local water
supply.
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44. Kid Question: Sprinkler/Kiddie Pool Question
[For Kids/with House/ either car or no car]
[In the Yard/Kiddie Pool Highlighted]
[Question]
Where you live, summer is as hot as the Sahara Desert. What’s the most water-saving way to cool
off?
A. Turn on the sprinklers for a half hour.
B. Fill spray bottles and super soakers with water, and invite your friends for a water fight.
C. Get cool in a wading pool.
[Answer if they pick A]
Good try, but the spray bottles and super soakers use the least water.
Answer if they pick B]
You got it! Spray bottles and super soakers are the most water-saving way to go. Have a blast!
[Answer if they pick C]
Good try, but the spray bottles and super soakers use the least water.
WATER WARS
You can have fun in the sun—and save water too.
• Even an extreme water fight uses less than 40 liters (10 gallons).
• A half hour in the sprinklers uses more than 270 liters (70 gallons) of water.
• Filling a wading pool usually requires over 380 liters (100 gallons) of water.
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45. SAME AS Q 30
[For Kids/with House/ either car or no car]
[In the Yard/Driveway Highlighted]
[Question]
When your driveway gets dirty, your parents ask you to wash it with a hose. Is there a better way?
A. Yes. You can sweep it.
B. No. Stick with the hose. Your parents know the best way to do things.
C. Absolutely! Use an electric power washer to blast the grime on your driveway back to the
Age of the Dinosaurs.
[Answer if they pick A]
Awesome! You just swept up the competition.
[Answer if they pick B]
Oh, do they? Actually, sweeping is the most water-saving way to go, and the hose uses the most
water of all.
[Answer if they pick C]
Yikes! That’s overkill. Sweeping is the most water-saving way to go.
A CLEAN SWEEP
• Save water by sweeping—not washing—the driveway and sidewalks in front of your home.
• But tell your folks that power washers can use only 1/5 the water of a garden hose.
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47.
1-A. [For KIDS/with House/ either car or no car]
Yard [In the Yard//Lawn Highlighted]
[Question]
It’s blazing hot at noon on a summer day. Your front lawn is looking pretty fried.
You should:
A. Ask your parents to turn on the sprinklers right away! What would the neighbors think if
your lawn turned brown?
B. Tell your parents the lawn needs a drink. But they should wait until sundown before turning
on the waterworks.
C. Go grab the hose and fire away until the yard is good and soaked!
[Answer if they pick A]
Stop! Never water your lawn when the sun is high in the sky.
[Answer if they pick B]
Good idea. You saved water by not running the sprinklers at high noon.
[Answer if they pick C]
Stop! Never water your lawn when the sun is out. Besides, the hose uses more water than a
sprinkler to do the same job.
WATER WHEN THE SUN IS LOW
• Watering in the heat of the day is like pouring water down a drain. Eleven liters (3 gallons)
out of every ten can be lost to evaporation.
YOUR CURRENT SCORE
Out of a total of X questions, you have answered X
Here’s how much water you saved: X liters (X gallons)
CONTINUE
41