Final answer:
To calculate the cost of water for laundry and bathing, we use the given rate of $7.64/100 cubic feet of water. For laundry, the total cost per year is approximately $26.62. For bathing, the total cost per year is approximately $64.02.
Step-by-step explanation:
In order to calculate the cost of water for laundry and bathing, we need to use the given rate of $7.64/100 cubic feet of water. First, let's calculate the cost of laundry per year:
a. The standard washing machine uses 50 gallons of water per load. Assuming one load of laundry per week for 52 weeks in a year, the total volume of water used for laundry per year is 50 gallons/week * 52 weeks = 2600 gallons.
Since 1 cubic foot of water is equal to 7.48 gallons, we can convert the volume of water used for laundry to cubic feet by dividing 2600 gallons by 7.48 gallons per cubic foot, which gives us approximately 347.99 cubic feet.
To calculate the cost of laundry per year, we can multiply the volume of water used for laundry per year by the rate of $7.64/100 cubic feet:
Total cost per year = 347.99 cubic feet * ($7.64/100 cubic feet) = $26.62/yr.
b. According to the given study, the average American shower uses 17.2 gallons of water and lasts for 8.2 minutes. Assuming one shower per day for a year, the total volume of water used for showers per year is 17.2 gallons/day * 365 days = 6,278 gallons.
Converting the volume of water used for showers to cubic feet, we divide 6,278 gallons by 7.48 gallons per cubic foot, which gives us approximately 837.58 cubic feet.
Multiplying the volume of water used for showers per year by the rate of $7.64/100 cubic feet gives us:
Total cost per year = 837.58 cubic feet * ($7.64/100 cubic feet) = $64.02/yr.