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<br />4. There are several possible datum, related to non-landscaping water use, that may <br />need to be collected. These include: <br />a. Number of residents. One concern in setting up the study is that Group I <br />homeowners may be biased initially towards conserving, if they have chosen on <br />their own to add the amendment. The method of selecting the participants will <br />seek to minimize this bias, however a check for this bias would be useful. One <br />such check could be in comparing the per capita indoor water use figures for <br />the two groups. In order to calculate this value, the number of residents in <br />each home needs to be lcnown. <br /> <br />b. A'l.e of residents. It is lcnown that indoor water use is related to the age of the <br />residents (with teenagers typically using more than other ages). The ages of the <br />residents in the two groups will be compared in order to determine similarity. <br /> <br />c. Time $pCnt in home. The landscape water use will be determined by <br />subtracting the indoor use (determined in the winter) from the total summer <br />water use. The accuracy of this calculation is dependent upon the validity of <br />the assumption that the indoor water use is constant between winter and <br />summer. The major varable affecting that is the time that the residents spend <br />in the horne, which will be determined by asking them. They will also be <br />asked if the same number of people resided in the home during the entire study <br />period, as might be affected by children attending college and spending <br />vacations at home, or by having house guests for a long period. <br /> <br />d. Unusual water-consumin, features. such as a !lwirnmin~ nnn1,. <br /> <br />5. There are several possible variables related to the amount of landscape water use. <br />Data on these variables will need to be gathered, and considered in the study. An <br />effort will be made to keep all of these variables constant between the two subject <br />groups. However, if any significant differences are found between the two groups, <br />appropriate corrections to the water use values will need to be made. The variables <br />include: <br />a. Location. The specific location of the home could relate to two factors in <br />Iandsoape water use. First, the soil type of the area, and secondly, the extent <br />of mature trees in the area (and consequently the amount of shade). The <br />location of the home is easily identified. <br /> <br />b. Lot size, In general, the larger the lot size, the greater the amount of landscape <br />water use. This information is readily available from Water Utility records. <br /> <br />c. Construction cost. There is likely a correlation between the financial value of <br />a home and the homeowner's desire to have an attractive landscape. This data <br />can be obtained through the City Building Department. <br /> <br />2 <br />