AWWA ACE56290

Water system demand characteristics (quantity, quality, timing, and location) drive many distribution system management, operation, and design decisions. Most notably, characteristics such as average-annual use, maximum-day use, maximum-hour use, and fire-flow requirements constrain the makeup, size, and timing of distribution system modifications and expansions. Though very sophisticated network models have been developed to design and analyze distribution system modifications and expansions, these models traditionally treat nodal demand characteristics as a given, fixed and known. However, in many cases, spatial distribution of demand is not well defined. This paper summaries recent AwwaRF research to quantify and further understand the spatial characteristics of water demand. The research assesses consumption and production data for strengths and weaknesses, reviews applicable scientific sampling methods, and develops statistical models to better develop spatial inference about the distribution of spatial demand. Applications of these methods and models include improved capacity expansion planning, better calibrated distribution models for water quality applications, a scientific basis for probabilistic inference on water demand, and greater resolution to detect trends in water consumption relevant to distribution system design and operation. Includes figures.