The Challenge

Cut your use of water each day by 25% compared to last year. What is your Water Footprint? How much water do you and your family use a day? Is it 5 gallons? 50 gallons? 200 gallons? 500 gallons? To determine your “water footprint,” (how much water one uses per day) begin by reviewing your water bill, noting how many gallons your household uses per month. Then let's do an experiment that calibrates some common water usages. While waiting for the hot water to come through the faucet, take a one gallon plastic container and fill it up. Did it take more than one gallon to reach the desired temperature? How much time did it take to receive hot water? Now how can we distribute that one gallon (or 128 ounces)?


    Here is how I use mine:
  • 32 ounces of water (equal to a quart of milk) to water 4 indoor plants
  • 16 ounces of water to fill the dog's drinking bowl
  • 32 ounces to fill the tea pot
  • 32 ounces to rinse the salad greens
  • 16 ounces or two glasses of water to hydrate myself!

Now you have a better understanding of how much you can accomplish with a gallon of water.