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Chalkboard imageWater Science Activity Center

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Challenge Questions:

  • How much water falls during a storm?
  • How much water does a dripping faucet waste?
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Questionnaires:

  • How does your home drinking water taste?
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Water Science Activities
Drip Calculator: How much water does a leaking faucet waste?

Activity Description

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There is no scientific definition of the volume of a faucet drip, but after measuring a number of kitchen and bathroom sink faucets, for our calculations below (numbers are rounded), we are going to use 1/4 milliliter (ml) as the volume of a faucet drip. By these drip estimates:

  • One gallon = 15,140 drips
  • One liter = 4,000 drips

Looking at it this way, it seems like that drop of water down the drain is pretty insignificant. Use the form below to see how all those drops flowing in "real time" can add up to a flood.

Number of homes

Number of faucets in each home

Number of drips per minute

Here's how much water would be wasted (numbers may be rounded):

Drips per day:

Liters per day:

Gallons (US) per day:

Gallons (US) per year:

Back to the Activity Center.

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