Pattern of Water Use at the United Arab Emirates University

In this study, indoor water use at the United Arab Emirates University (UAEU) was assessed for three years (2016, 2017, and 2018). A geographic information system (GIS) was employed to determine where water use is high within the university, when and why water is used, who uses it, and how to minimize its usage. Diverse data were employed to elucidate the broad patterns of university water use. It was assumed that water use is directly proportional to the number of students and is lower during winter. The relationship between water use and number of students in academic buildings was modeled using least squares regression. The results indicate a low correlation between water use and the number of students, possibly due to the centralized usage of academic buildings and movement of students between them. The hypothesis of activity-driven consumption indicated that most water use occurred in residential buildings (47.5%), averaging 81.7 L per person per day (LPD). This value is lower than the metrics for dormitories in the United States (121 LPD) and Europe (143 LPD). A survey of 412 students revealed that half the respondents were not aware of water issues. Most of them (87%) preferred to drink bottled water and were not willing to use gray water for flushing (56%) or urinals (60%). The findings of this study will improve the understanding of university water use which will facilitate the development of effective water conservation policies and the establishment of such practices among the next generation.

Download Full-text

Spatio-Temporal Mapping of Water Consumption at Public Institutions: Case of the United Arab Emirates University

Abstracts of the ICA ◽

10.5194/ica-abs-1-413-2019 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 1 ◽

pp. 1-1

Author(s):

M. M. Yagoub ◽

Tareefa AlSumaiti ◽

Latifa Ebrahim ◽

Yaqein Ahmed ◽

Rauda Abdulla

Keyword(s):

United Arab Emirates ◽

Water Consumption ◽

Water Conservation ◽

Residential Buildings ◽

Tap Water ◽

Public Institutions ◽

Least Square ◽

United Arab Emirates University ◽

The University ◽

Water Issues

<p><strong>Abstract.</strong> The United Arab Emirates (UAE) faces water scarcity. Yet, the UAE is one of the highest countries in the per capita water consumption. The United Arab Emirates University (UAEU) is one of the biggest public institutions in the country. On average, the water costs the university annually around two million dirhams. In this study, indoor water consumption at the UAEU is assessed for the period 2016&ndash;2017. Geographic Information System (GIS) is utilized to answer where water is highly consumed within the university (hot spots), when (time), who consume it, why (causes), and how to minimize consumption. It assembles diverse data reside at various departments to gain a better knowledge about the broad patterns of water consumption in the university. The assumption made here is that water consumption is directly proportional to population density and less during winter. The highest water consumption is found at the College of Information Technology (CIT) and this is due to its size and heterogeneity of its activities. The relationship between water consumption and number of students is modeled using least square. The results indicated low correlation between water consumption and number of students. This may be due to the centralized usage of buildings and movement of students between buildings. Temporal variation showed sharp decrease during July of 2016 and 2017 irrespective of the building type/size and this is associated with summer holidays. The hypothesis of activity-driven consumption showed that the highest water consumption is found at residential buildings due to the longer stay time at hostels. The library showed consistent low water consumption. It is interesting to deduce the library usage while investigating water consumption, but it is a lesson that water consumption could be used as a proxy to reveal number of users at buildings. The water consumption at UAEU is benchmarked with other institutes in UAE and abroad. The result from this study identified sites with the highest water consumption and this could be used to adapt water conservation techniques at these sites. A survey was conducted to understand the students’ water consumption behavior, know their willingness to use water conservation methods, and measure their awareness level related to water issues in UAE. The results revealed that half of the respondents are not aware of the water issues. Majority of respondents prefer to drink bottled water than tap water. Majority of respondents are not willing to use grey water or urinals as ways to conserve water due to the lack of knowledge and some physiological reasons. Yet, they are willing to take course designed to teach them how to conserve water and to participate in competitions that reward them for having lower water consumption at hostels.</p>

Download Full-text

When Small Is Not Beautiful: The Unexpected Impacts of Trees and Parcel Size on Metered Water-Use in a Semi-Arid City

Remote Sensing ◽

10.3390/rs13050998 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (5) ◽

pp. 998

Author(s):

Shaundra Rasmussen ◽

Travis Warziniack ◽

Abbye Neel ◽

Jarlath O’Neil-Dunne ◽

Melissa McHale

Keyword(s):

Population Growth ◽

Water Use ◽

Water Consumption ◽

Water Conservation ◽

Tree Canopy ◽

City Managers ◽

Development Patterns ◽

Conservation Policies ◽

Parcel Size ◽

Semi Arid

Colorado’s water supply is under threat due to climate change pressures and population growth, however Colorado has been recognized to have some of the most progressive water conservation programs in the country. Limiting outdoor water consumption is an increasingly popular approach to conserving water in semi-arid cities, yet in order to implement effective water reduction and conservation policies, more utilities and city managers need a firm understanding of the local drivers of outdoor water consumption. This research explores the drivers of outdoor water consumption in a semi-arid, medium-sized Colorado city that is projected to undergo significant population growth. We used a combination of correlation and linear regression analyses to identify the key descriptive variables that predict greater water consumption at the household scale. Some results were specific to the development patterns of this medium-sized city, where outdoor water use increased 7% for each additional mile (1.6 km) a household was located from the historic urban center. Similarly, more expensive homes used more water as well. Surprisingly, households with a higher ratio of vegetation cover to parcel size tended toward less water consumption. This result could be because parcels that are shaded by their tree canopy require less irrigation. We discuss these results to assist city managers and policymakers in creating water-efficient landscapes and provide information that can be leveraged to increase awareness for water conservation in a growing, semi-arid city.

Download Full-text

Pursuing more efficient water use: The history and future of water conservation in the United States

American Water Works Association ◽

10.5942/jawwa.2014.106.0115 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 106 (8) ◽

pp. 150-163 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Lisa A. Maddaus ◽

Michelle L. Maddaus ◽

William O. Maddaus ◽

Chris A. Matyas

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Water Use ◽

Water Conservation ◽

The United States ◽

Efficient Water Use

Download Full-text

Urban Water Conservation Policies in the United States

Earth s Future ◽

10.1029/2017ef000797 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 6 (7) ◽

pp. 955-967 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Jonathan M. Gilligan ◽

Christopher A. Wold ◽

Scott C. Worland ◽

John J. Nay ◽

David J. Hess ◽

...

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Water Conservation ◽

The United States ◽

Urban Water ◽

Conservation Policies

Download Full-text

EVALUATION OF RESIDENTIAL WATER UTILIZATION UNDER AN EDUCATION AND CONSERVATION PROGRAM

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.27.6.640e ◽

1992 ◽

Vol 27 (6) ◽

pp. 640e-640

Author(s):

Richard A. Wit ◽

Garald L. Horst ◽

Donald H. Steinegger ◽

Blaine L. Blad

Keyword(s):

Water Use ◽

Water Conservation ◽

System Performance ◽

Potential Evapotranspiration ◽

Irrigation System ◽

Kentucky Bluegrass ◽

The United States ◽

Irrigation Scheduling ◽

Test Method ◽

Water Meters

Depletion and contamination of traditional water supplies and population pressures are straining the water resources of the United States. This has placed increased emphasis on the need for water conservation through all phases of the use cycle. Objectives of this research were to: 1) Determine water use in residential, commercial, and institutional landscapes; 2) Evaluate landscape irrigation system performance; and 3) Evaluate feasibility of landscape irrigation scheduling. Beginning in 1991, water meters on 18 test sites in Lincoln, NE were read on a weekly basis. Water meter readings during the winter were used to develop a baseline on non-landscape water use. The “can test” method was used to evaluate landscape irrigation system precipitation rate and distribution efficiency. Four recording weather stations were used to estimate daily potential evapotranspiration (ETp). Lysimeters (20 cm dia. × 31 cm deep) were installed in two Kentucky bluegrass and one tall fescue landscape to estimate water use coefficients for calculating landscape evapotranspiration. Irrigation system Christiansen coefficients of uniformity ranged from .43 to .87 with scheduling coefficients ranging from 1.31 to over 15.14. Poor irrigation system performance characteristics made it difficult to schedule irrigation on estimated water use.

Download Full-text

Addressing the Scarcity of Traditional Water Sources through Investments in Alternative Water Supplies: Case Study from Florida

Water ◽

10.3390/w12082089 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (8) ◽

pp. 2089

Author(s):

Tatiana Borisova ◽

Matthew Cutillo ◽

Kate Beggs ◽

Krystle Hoenstine

Keyword(s):

Water Supply ◽

Water Conservation ◽

Water Demand ◽

The United States ◽

Ordinary Least Squares ◽

Least Squares Regression ◽

Fresh Groundwater ◽

Capital Costs ◽

Alternative Water ◽

Alternative Water Supply

This paper examines the capital costs for alternative water supply projects in Florida, the third most populous state in the United States. The increasing scarcity of fresh groundwater in Florida has led to investments in alternative water supply sources, including brackish groundwater, surface water capture and storage, reclaimed water, and stormwater. Expenditures to meet the growing water demand for the 20-year planning horizon are estimated using water demand projections and existing supply estimates from Florida’s five water management districts. In the regions where demand projections exceed the existing supply, the districts are required to identify project options to meet the growing water demand while protecting the natural systems. This study uses the database of 645 projects implemented in the past or considered for the future. The Ordinary Least Squares regression model shows that project implementation costs depend on project capacity, type, implementation status, and implementation region. Given the most common project types and project sizes, the total investments to meet the state’s future water demand could reach almost $2 billion in the next 20 years. The expenditures necessitate more cost-effective options (such as expanding stormwater use and water conservation).

Download Full-text