Task: For the purpose of this discussion assume that you are billed monthly based on the actual amount of water used the prior month, not on a levelled "same amount per month" payment plan.
1. Consider your monthly water bill - define the dependent and independent variables used. Remember the dependent will change because of the independent not the other way around. For example crops will grow more (dependent) on the amount of rain (independent) but rain is not impacted by crops. Define at six pairs of dependent and independent variables which will cause the water bill to change.
2. Think about your actual house/apartment and consider three events/relationships (which you have not already identified above) which exist and are predictable indicators of changes in your water bill.
3. Aside from utilities, what other costs in your household budget vary on a predictable basis during the year? Identify 4 cost categories and the events/relationships which would generate a change in cost.