
Ocean Proximity and Household Water Use
Hard
Does living near the ocean change how much water your household uses? You might expect coastal families to use less tap water. This survey tests that assumption.
You collect water bills from 50 families living within 2 km of the ocean. You compare them to 50 families living over 50 km inland. You group both sets by income level to keep the comparison fair.
The results show that distance from the ocean barely affects water use. Income level turns out to be the stronger predictor of consumption.
Hypothesis
The hypothesis is that people who live near the ocean will consume less water.
Method & Materials
You will survey 50 families that live near the sea and 50 families that live inland. You will analyze the data to determine the average amount of water consumed by each person in the family.
You will need a computer to help analyze the data, a survey form, and permission from your school’s administration to obtain data from the students.
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See what’s includedResults
The data gathered suggests that water consumption by residents living near the ocean and away from the ocean is similar. However, the higher the income level of the family, the higher the water consumption.
Why do this project?
This science project is interesting because it investigates how living near the sea affects water consumption. It also looks at how income levels can affect water consumption.
Also Consider
Consider repeating the project by comparing the water consumption of families who live beside a river and those who don’t. Also, try ascertaining the difference in consumption between urban families and rural families.
Full project details
Additional information and source material for this project are available below.Related videos
These videos explain the science behind this project and demonstrate key concepts used in the experiment.
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