Comparing diurnal patterns of domestic water consumption: an international study

The increasing variability of water supply and demand makes the creation of improved sustainable water management systems crucial. Optimized decision making tools are required to better manage urban water resources. This paper presents the implementation of the WISDOM project aiming at (a) increasing user awareness and modifying behaviours, (b) encouraging water conservation and (c) reducing peak-period of water distribution loads. By collecting near real-time data, smart metering encourages behaviour changes and informs water companies about their customers’ consumption while feedback provided through in-home displays educates people about their usage. Collecting disaggregated data about domestic water use also allows the profiling of behaviours that need to be targeted to promote conservation. In the context of the WISDOM project, these two devices were implemented within households in Cardiff (UK) allowing the collection of disaggregated data. These new technologies will optimize the peak-period management of water while encouraging water conservation and behavioural change