scholarly journals Implications of Water Tariff Structures on Water Demand in Santa Cruz Island (Galapagos Archipelago)

Author(s):  
Maria F. Reyes

The island of Santa Cruz, located in the Galápagos Archipelago has experienced a significant increase in tourism with consequent growth of the local population over the past two decades. The rapid increase in the number of hotels and restaurants raised pressure on the water demand needed to satisfy the customers’ needs. The municipality of Santa Cruz has not been capable of coping with current expansion rates in order to provide good quality water services. Financial constraints, limited personnel, and tariff structures are the main reasons that restrict the capacity of the Department of Potable Water and Sanitation (DPWS) to manage the water supply system. There are two main settlements on the island are Puerto Ayora and its suburb, Bellavista, with a total population of approximately 14,500 and independent water supply systems. Puerto Ayora has a fixed-priced tariff per month, for categories established by the municipality. On the other hand, Bellavista has a metered system, with fixed consumer costs Yet, approximately 32% of water meters are faulty. Consequently, water demand in these two settlements varies significantly, which is likely influenced by the difference in tariff structures. This manuscript assesses the difference in tariffs between the two settlements. Furthermore, the impacts on revenues due to faulty meters (Bellavista) and fixed tariffs (Puerto Ayora) are quantified. In addition, several scenarios have been developed and analyzed in order to examine the benefits. Finally, the information regarding overdue bills and willingness to pay by the different categories of users has been examined. Results show that the revenues from water supply vary extensively between the two settlements. Due to the fixed tariffs in Puerto Ayora, the estimated cost per cubic meter of water varies depending on the specific category and estimated quantities of water used. In the case of Bellavista, water meters should be managed better and have regular maintenance. The high percentage of faulty meters gives an extra deficit to the municipality.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jolijn van Engelenburg ◽  
Erik van Slobbe ◽  
Adriaan J. Teuling ◽  
Remko Uijlenhoet ◽  
Petra Hellegers

Abstract. Developments such as climate change and growing demand for drinking water threaten the sustainability of drinking water supply worldwide. To deal with this threat, adaptation of drinking water supply systems is imperative, not only on a global and national scale, but particularly on a local scale. This investigation sought to establish characteristics that describe the sustainability of local drinking water supply. We use an integrated systems approach, describing the local drinking water supply system in terms of hydrological, technical and socio-economic characteristics that determine the sustainability of a local drinking water supply system. Three cases on drinking water supply in the Netherlands are analysed. One case relates to a short-term development, that is the 2018 summer drought, and two concern long-term phenomena, that is, changes in water quality and growth in drinking water demand. The approach taken recognises that next to extreme weather events, socio-economic developments will be among the main drivers of changes in drinking water supply. Effects of pressures associated with, for example, population growth, industrial developments and land use changes, could result in limited water resource availability, deteriorated groundwater quality and growing water demand. To gain a perspective on the case study findings broader than the Dutch context, the sustainability issues identified were paired with global issues concerning sustainable drinking water supply. This resulted in a proposed set of generally applicable sustainability characteristics, each divided into five criteria describing the hydrological, technical and socio-economic sustainability of a local drinking water supply system. Elaboration of these sustainability characteristics and criteria into a sustainability assessment can provide information on the challenges and trade-offs inherent in the sustainable development and management of a local drinking water supply system.


2018 ◽  
Vol 59 ◽  
pp. 00006
Author(s):  
Janusz Rak ◽  
Krzysztof Boryczko

The subject of the publication is the presentation of a methodology for determining the degree of diversification of water resources in collective water supply systems (= CWSS). Knowing the number of subsystems for water supply and their share of total water production, it is possible to calculate the dimensionless Pielou index. Similarly, the diversification indicators for networked water tanks (number and volume) and pressure pipelines of the second degree pumping station (number and flowability) can be determined. The work presents the calculation of diversification indices for selected CWSS in Poland. The presented methodology gives the possibility of three-parameter evaluation of settlement units with different water demand and different technical structure.


2018 ◽  
Vol 59 ◽  
pp. 00022
Author(s):  
Mikołaj Sikorski ◽  
Hanna Bauman-Kaszubska

When calculating the balance of water supply, the purpose for which water is intended should be taken into account. Depending on them, the water quality parameters may vary. Rural and agricultural water demand covers the basic types of water demand, including the population's living and economic needs, animal husbandry, the needs of public utilities, the needs related to the operation of vehicles and machinery, workshops, machines and other purposes, including the own needs of the water pipes, fire-fighting etc. The level of demand is also closely related to the factors influencing the level of individual water consumption. Taking into account the deficiencies in formal and legal regulations, the binding regulations concerning the operation of water supply systems in special conditions have been presented so far. Elements of the benchmarking study on unit water demand indicators in normal and special conditions in rural areas have also been taken into account, guided by the principles and numerical indicators for the calculation of water demand for drinking and business purposes.


Water ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 1037 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ewa Ociepa ◽  
Maciej Mrowiec ◽  
Iwona Deska

This paper presents the analysis and assessment of water losses in water distribution systems of three water supply companies operating water supply networks in the area of effect of underground mining. The analysis of water losses was conducted based on numerous indices allowing for obtaining objective information on the condition of the water supply system. The method of the analysis of percentage water loss index was extended by the methods of determination of losses according to the International Water Association. The results of the analysis lead to the conclusion that with regular actions, the companies have reduced water losses in recent years to a level considered to be good compared to national data and average compared to international standards. The value of the failure intensity index for all companies in 2011 was over 1.0 while currently it is about 0.5. The decrease in Non-Revenue Water basic loss index (NRWB) from more than 20% for all analysed companies in 2008 to a few percent in 2017 and the decrease in Infrastructure Leakage Index (ILI) for companies A and C to less than 2.0 are evidence of the good condition of the network. This is also confirmed by the unit water loss index per capita, with its value in 2017 being 9.1 dm3/(inhabitant day) for company A, 11 dm3/(inhabitant·day) for B and 7.4 dm3/(inhabitant·day) for C. The several years of analysis and evaluation of numerous indices of water loss presented in the paper reveals the effectiveness of the adopted strategies of reducing leakages in the distribution system. It should be emphasized that the analysed companies have been involved in comprehensive initiatives aimed at reducing water leakages, resulting in a substantial reduction in water losses. GIS monitoring systems and databases are particularly helpful in reducing water losses. The basis of the activities is monitoring of flow and pressure in water supply networks and active leakage control. Network zoning with simultaneous observation of minimum night-time flows allows for preliminary location of the failure. Equipping companies with special leakage detection devices such as geophones, stethophones or correlators enables quick detection of leakages. The next step is to replace water meters with more and more accurate ones and to implement radio reading of water meters. All analysed companies perform systematic replacement of old steel and cast iron pipes which cause a large number of leakages that are often difficult to identify, thus leading to water losses.


Proceedings ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 47
Author(s):  
Kepa ◽  
Stepniak ◽  
Stanczyk-Mazanek ◽  
Chudzik

The basis for the desing of water supply devices is knowledge of the distribution of water demand. The purpose of this work was to determine the structure of water demand for selected building objects. Differences between real and literature values of water flow and water demand were determined. On the basis of the analysis, water meters were selected and peak factors were determined. The analysis was performed based on current legal acts, technical literature, and data obtained from Dabrowskie Wodociagi Sp. z o.o. in Dabrowa Gornicza, Poland.


Author(s):  
Arezoo Boroomandnia ◽  
Omid Bozorg-Haddad ◽  
Jimmy Yu ◽  
Mariam Darestani

Abstract Fast-growing water demand, population growth, global climate change, and water quality deterioration all drive scientists to apply novel approaches to water resource management. Nanotechnology is one of the state-of-the-art tools in scientists’ hands which they can use to meet human water needs via reuse of water and utilizing unconventional water resources. Additionally, monitoring water supply systems using new nanomaterials provides more efficient water distribution networks. In this chapter, we consider the generic concepts of nanotechnology and its effects on water resources management strategies. A wide range of nanomaterials and nanotechnologies, including nano-adsorbents, nano-photocatalysts, and nano-membranes, are introduced to explain the role of nanotechnology in providing new water resources to meet growing demand. Also, nanomaterial application as a water alternative in industry, reducing water demand in the industrial sector, is presented. Another revolution made by nanomaterials, also discussed in this chapter, is their use in water supply systems for monitoring probable leakage and leakage reduction. Finally, we present case studies that clarify the influence of nanotechnology on water resources and their management strategies. These case studies prove the importance and inevitable application of nanotechnology to satisfy the rising water demand in the modern world, and show the necessity of nanotechnology awareness for today's water experts.


2017 ◽  
Vol 64 ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Fernanda Reyes Fernanda Reyes ◽  
Nemanja Trifunović ◽  
Saroj Sharma ◽  
Noémi d’Ozouville ◽  
Maria D. Kennedy

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Felipe Souza ◽  
Gabriela Gesualdo ◽  
Murugesu Sivapalan ◽  
Eduardo Mendiondo

<p>Water supply in large cities has challenged governments and water authorities because of the complexity involved in meeting water demands. The traditional challenges stem from the seasonality of precipitation and population growth. Although water resources management strategies assume potential scenarios for water demand growth to design water infrastructure, unexpected changes in the hydrological cycle may cause shocks to urban water supply systems and generate unanticipated patterns of consumption, such as occurred during the water crisis experienced by the São Paulo Metropolitan Area (SPMA) from 2014 to 2016. This work explores the coevolution of the coupled human-water system variables associated with the water supply system within the SPMA, from the late twentieth century to the present, to explain how water demand has influenced water availability, and vice-versa, in particular for the Cantareira Reservoir System. The challenges facing the human-water system in the region are of critical importance, given that it supplies water to more than 9 million people, and it supports economic activities that represent 12% of Brazil’s Gross Domestic Product. The analysis reveals that hydrological shifts are responsible for major structural transformations and they also have led to changes in domestic consumption. We conclude that modelling the interactions and feedbacks between water availability and consumption can provide more realistic storylines to implement strategies to address water scarcity than merely considering long-term demand scenarios, as it is normally done. In addition, policies implemented to promote water savings can have different responses at sub-regional scales and this can be explored also in the context of long-term scenarios.</p>


Author(s):  
Jacek Wawrzosek ◽  
Syzmon Ignaciuk ◽  
Justyna Stańczyk ◽  
Joanna Kajewska-Szkudlarek

AbstractDevices for water consumption measurement provide data from periodical readings in a non-simultaneous and cumulative manner. This may result in inaccuracies within the process of inference about the short-term habitual patterns of water supply network users. Maintaining systems at the interface between periodic and continuous processes requires the continuous improvement of research methodology. To obtain reliable results regarding the variability of water consumption, the first step should be to estimate it for each observation day by periodic averaging and a possible water balancing approach, but the analysis of the value of estimators obtained in this way usually does not allow for studying autocorrelation. However, other methods indicate the existence of multiplicative parameters characterizing short- and long-term variations in water demand. The purpose of this study is to create a new and deterministic method for tackling the problem associated with a lack of short-term detailed data with fuzzy time series using a multiplicative model for water consumption. Satisfactory results have been obtained, demonstrating that the dispersed data, received in a cumulative manner for random periods of measurement, can be analyzed by the methodology of proposed statistical inference. The observed variability in water consumption may be used in the planning and modernization of water supply systems, development of water demand patterns, hydraulic models, and in the creation of forecasting models of water consumption.


2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julia K. Ambrosio ◽  
Bruno M. Brentan ◽  
Manuel Herrera ◽  
Edevar Luvizotto ◽  
Lubienska Ribeiro ◽  
...  

Prediction models have become essential for the improvement of decision-making processes in public management and, particularly, for water supply utilities. Accurate estimation often needs to solve multimeasurement, mixed-mode, and space-time problems, typical of many engineering applications. As a result, accurate estimation of real world variables is still one of the major problems in mathematical approximation. Several individual techniques have shown very good estimation abilities. However, none of them are free from drawbacks. This paper faces the challenge of creating accurate water demand predictive models at urban scale by using so-called committee machines, which are ensemble frameworks of single machine learning models. The proposal is able to combine models of varied nature. Specifically, this paper analyzes combinations of such techniques as multilayer perceptrons, support vector machines, extreme learning machines, random forests, adaptive neural fuzzy inference systems, and the group method for data handling. Analyses are checked on two water demand datasets from Franca (Brazil). As an ensemble tool, the combined response of a committee machine outperforms any single constituent model.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document