The following appeared in a letter from the owner of the Sunnyside Towers apartment complex to its manager.” One month ago, all the showerheads in the first three buildings of the Sunnyside Towers complex were modified to restrict maximum water flow to one-third of what it used to be. Although actual readings of water usage before and after the adjustment are not yet available, the change will obviously result in a considerable savings for Sunnyside Corporation, since the corporation must pay for water each month. Except for a few complaints about low water pressure, no problems with showers have been reported since the adjustment. I predict that modifying showerheads to restrict water flow throughout all twelve buildings in the Sunnyside Towers complex will increase our profits even more dramatically.”

The following appeared in a letter from the owner of the Sunnyside Towers apartment complex to its manager.

“One month ago, all the showerheads in the first three buildings of the Sunnyside Towers complex were modified to restrict maximum water flow to one-third of what it used to be. Although actual readings of water usage before and after the adjustment are not yet available, the change will obviously result in a considerable savings for Sunnyside Corporation, since the corporation must pay for water each month. Except for a few complaints about low water pressure, no problems with showers have been reported since the adjustment. I predict that modifying showerheads to restrict water flow throughout all twelve buildings in the Sunnyside Towers complex will increase our profits even more dramatically.”

Write a response in which you discuss what questions would need to be answered in order to decide whether the prediction and the argument on which it is based are reasonable. Be sure to explain how the answers to these questions would help to evaluate the prediction.

The speaker states that making shower heads restrict the amount of water that can be dispensed from them will save money. Does he have a valid point? There are many issues that would need to be considered before making such a claim.

One, the shower heads in question may have been made obsolete by more modern models. It is entirely possible that the fixtures that were eventually installed in Sunnyside Towers were far superior to the older models. The newer models could be more efficient, and they could emit less water each use. A reduction in water waste could be reflected in lower utility bills, which could in turn result in greater profits.

Finding out how much water the shower heads were using before was modified will help determine whether the savings would be realized. If the savings are substantial, then the corporation may want to keep its current shower heads, at least for the time being. If the savings are minimal, then the corporation should replace the current shower heads with those that are more water-efficient.

Another factor is the age of the people in Sunnyside Towers. Are they older, or younger? Do they have children at home, or do they not have any? Do they use hot water in the shower, or do they prefer cold water? All of these factors will determine whether the residents will even notice the change in their showers. If the residents are used to hot water, they may not notice any difference. If they are used to cold water, they may notice a lessening of the water rushing from the shower head, but they may not immediately associate that with a reduction in costs.

Finally, the residents may have an unlimited supply of water at home. If they are used to showering for no more than five minutes, then they may perceive the water restriction as not only unnecessary, but annoying. If, on the other hand, the residents have a large family, then they may be willing to sacrifice a small amount of water in order to save that amount over a five-month period. Deciding whether the savings would be substantial enough to justify such a change will be difficult. The corporation needs to conduct a thorough cost-benefit analysis of the shower head modification before implementing it.

The speaker of the letter has made a reasonable prediction. The corporation should be concerned about reducing its expenses, and limiting water waste is one way of doing so. The corporation must test the shower heads before making a decision about whether to keep them or replace them. If the tests show that the reduction in water usage is minimal, then the corporation should replace the shower heads, since doing so will conserve water without compromising the residents’ comfort. If the tests show that the amount of water that the current shower heads use is excessive, then the corporation should replace the shower heads to prevent waste.