Brushing My Teeth….Who Knew?!

We’ve been doing a lot of reading in science class about how we consume energy and water in America.  Our 5th grade science teacher, Mrs. Dorsey asked us to think about how much water we use every time we brush our teeth, wash dishes, or water the lawn. I didn’t have any idea of how much.  So the other night, I tried figuring out how much water is used when I brushed my teeth. I stopped the sink and brushed away, letting the water run the way I always did.  When I finished and looked at the sink, it was almost ¾ full. When I measured it using a 6oz dixie cup, it took almost 14 cups to empty out the sink.  That was only from 5 minutes of brushing!

This was really useful because I had no idea how much water I wasted.  So what did I learn, you might be asking? I need to turn off the water while I brush.  Most importantly, water is a valuable resource and we can’t take it for granted.  I think when I grow up, I’d like to study it and find ways to conserve it.  I had no idea.

What other ways can you think of to reduce water waste, either at home or school?

Maricela goes to school in Chicago, enjoys listening to Justin Bieber, after school gymnastics class, and making jewelry.

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