Can you explain how a showerhead can save water?

You can use the Engineering Design Process to answer that question. Here are the steps:

1. Ask. What is the challenge? What do we know already?

   1. We want to save water. We know that water comes out from holes in the showerhead.

2. Imagine. Brainstorm possible solutions, consider design options.

   1. Let’s compare water use using two different sized holes in a model of a showerhead.

3. Plan. Choose a design, draw a picture, and identify materials to use.

   1. We’ll punch holes in the bottom of two plastic containers. One set of holes will be smaller and the other set will be larger.

   2. We’ll fill the containers with water and compare how much water drips out in a set time.

4. Create. Build your solution, test it out.

   1. Conduct a few trials to compare results.

5. Improve. Study results, modify design to make it better, test again.

   1. Try different approaches; drip one container at a time, drip both at once.

   2. Make sure to use the same amount of water.

Based on your study, what is the key to showerhead water savings? Can you think of other questions to ask? For instance, is there a difference in the force of water using water saving showerheads?