IB ESS SL 4.2.6 Domestic Water Conservation Question Bank
Evaluate household and community strategies for conserving water.
- Syllabus
- First assessment 2026
- Course
- ESS SL
- Level
- SL
Evaluate household and community strategies for conserving water.

Figure:Mean daily water use per person in California
With reference to Figure: Mean daily water use per person in California, outline two ways in which individuals in California could meet the 2030 target for indoor daily water use.
a. grey-water/water recycling could reduce use by providing a reusable source;
b. rainwater capture on buildings could be used to flush toilets/water gardens reducing demand;
c. water meters could be adopted to encourage less water usage / water meters could measure use with fines for exceeding allocated amount/with bonuses for people who reduce use;
d. government could set a quota on amount of water that can be used / use of water restrictions e.g. ban on using hose pipes/washing cars/watering lawns;
e. increasing the price of water to encourage less usage/waste/water tariff rates that increase as use increases;
f. use of more efficient water-saving appliances e.g. washing machines/low flush toilets/low flow shower heads;
g. practising individual conservation techniques e.g. turning off the tap when brushing teeth, taking showers instead of baths, having shorter showers, not using water in gardens/swimming pools etc.;
h. repair leaky taps/pipes/water system within the household;
i. education/campaigns to teach people how to stop wasting water;
Marking guidance:
Award max one mark for examples of practising individual conservation techniques. Do not accept 'repair leakages in infrastructure/mains water pipes'. Do not accept only 'education/increase public awareness/management/change in lifestyle/policies/regulations'.

Figure:Mean daily water use per person in California
Using Figure: Mean daily water use per person in California, calculate the percentage decrease in mean daily water use per person between 1990 and 2020.
a. ((1050−454)/1050×100)=56.76/57/56.8(%);