Investigation into low cost housing water use patterns and peak factors
Date
2016-12
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
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Publisher
Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Abstract
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: A need was identified to gain new insight and knowledge regarding the water demand of low cost housing (LCH) developments. More specifically, the primary objective of this study was to improve water demand guidelines for LCH projects through developing a novel water demand pattern. Peaking factors were also established from field data.
For the purposes of this study, the recorded water consumption data from 20 houses in Kleinmond, a town in the Western Cape Province of South Africa, was used. The data was sorted, filtered, and finally adapted where necessary. The prepared data was used to develop a water demand pattern for each house considered, from which an average diurnal water use pattern was developed. In addition, an average diurnal water use pattern for a weekday and a weekend day, as well as seasonal summer and winter water use patterns, were developed and compared.
Peaking factors were also calculated using the processed data. Similar to previous studies, peaking factor guidelines were developed in terms of the number of consumers. Three peaking factors, namely peak 15-minute factors, peak hourly factors and peak daily factors, were calculated.
The water use pattern derived from the data compared well with the results of previous studies for high-income areas, with two distinct peaks. However, the resulting diurnal water use pattern is notably different when compared to the earlier reported patterns for LCH.
The calculated peaking factors resulted in different ranges of peaking factor values according to the time intervals of the readings. A relationship was found between the magnitude of the peaking factors and the length of the peak factor interval. Peaking factors were also closely related to the number of households concerned. As the number of households increased, the peaking factor values decreased, in line with earlier reports.
The study provided an updated diurnal water use pattern for LCH areas with mainly working occupants. Furthermore, the weekend morning peak was found to occur later than the weekday morning peak, while the summer and winter water use patterns were found to be similar. The peaking factors calculated were 65% higher, in comparison to those in the previously developed guidelines. The water use pattern for LCH and the corresponding peaking factors presented in this thesis could be used in future for water demand modelling and time simulations in LCH areas with predominantly working occupants.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Geen opsomming beskikbaar
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Geen opsomming beskikbaar
Description
Thesis (MScEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2016.
Keywords
Water demand management, Urban housing, UCTD, Water consumption