The U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine determined that an adequate daily fluid intake is:

About 15.5 cups of fluids a day for men 

About 11.5 cups of fluids a day for women

What percentage of the water usage would be consumption by the people in the households?




To determine the percentage of household water usage that goes towards consumption by people, we first need to understand that "consumption" here refers to the fluid intake for drinking. Household water usage typically includes other activities, such as cooking, cleaning, washing clothes, watering plants, etc. To calculate the percentage for consumption by drinking, we need the total daily water usage of the household.

### Step-by-Step Approach:

1. **Convert Cups to Gallons:**
   - 1 cup = 0.0625 gallons (U.S.)
   - For men: \(15.5 \, \text{cups/day} \times 0.0625 \, \text{gallons/cup} = 0.96875 \, \text{gallons/day}\)
   - For women: \(11.5 \, \text{cups/day} \times 0.0625 \, \text{gallons/cup} = 0.71875 \, \text{gallons/day}\)

2. **Assume a Household Composition:**
   - Let’s assume a household with 1 man and 1 woman.
   - Total consumption for the household: \(0.96875 + 0.71875 = 1.6875 \, \text{gallons/day}\)

3. **Determine Total Household Water Usage:**
   - The average household water usage in the U.S. is around 300 gallons per day, but this can vary greatly based on location, climate, household size, and water conservation practices.

4. **Calculate the Percentage for Drinking Water Consumption:**
   - Percentage = \(\left( \frac{\text{Total daily drinking water consumption}}{\text{Total household water usage}} \right) \times 100\)

Plugging in the values:

\[
\text{Percentage} = \left( \frac{1.6875}{300} \right) \times 100 \approx 0.56\%
\]

### Conclusion:

Only about **0.56%** of a typical household's water usage would be for drinking water consumption, assuming a daily usage of 300 gallons.

---

Would you like more details or have any questions? Here are some related topics:

1. How can household water usage vary based on the number of people?
2. What are common methods to reduce household water consumption?
3. How does climate affect average daily water usage in households?
4. What are the differences in water usage between urban and rural households?
5. How does the water usage for drinking compare to other household activities like laundry or gardening?

**Tip:** Consider using a water-efficient appliance or fixing leaks to reduce overall household water consumption.

The U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine determined that an adequate daily fluid intake is: About 15.5 cups of fluids a day for men. About 11.5 cups of fluids a day for women. What percentage of the water usage would be consumption by the people in the households?

This solution helps calculate the percentage of water used for drinking in a typical household. Using the daily recommended fluid intake for men and women, along with the average household water usage, this step-by-step guide covers unit conversion and percentage calculation. Suitable for Grades 6-8 students.

Math Problem Statement

Solution

Ask a new question for Free

By Image

Math Problem Analysis

Mathematical Concepts

Formulas

Theorems

Suitable Grade Level

Related Recommendation