Understanding when, where, and why water is used in a household can provide vital information for the development of effective water demand management strategies. Detailed knowledge of the quantities of water used in different household activities provides data that can inform planning, forecasting and water conservation initiatives that traditional long-term average consumption patterns may fail to provide.
In Abu Dhabi, the residential sector consumes a significant amount of the desalinated water that is produced for the Emirate. Therefore, understanding how water is being used in a home is an important focal point for water sustainability efforts. To this end, The Residential End Use of Water (REUW) Project is the first of its kind in the country and aims to collect and analyse water end-use data in unprecedented detail.
The Project involved the installation of high-resolution meters in 150 medium sized villas in gated communities located in Abu Dhabi.
These meters capture flow trace signatures from individual appliances and fixtures within the villa. The data was then downloaded to a flow trace analysis software (Trace Wizard©) that showed how water was being used around the home.
In addition, a water use behavioural survey was carried out on participating residents to further complement metered data, helping us analyse specific patterns and learn more about participants' habits and perspectives regarding their own water use.
inform decisions and strategies for future water management and conservation programmes in Abu Dhabi.
However, the information collected from the 150 properties shall not be used in producing general statistics or figures representing the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.
The first stage of the REUW Project took place from September to October, 2012, and involved a small-scale pilot study that allowed us to test each component of the project in the Abu Dhabi context. The pilot phase enabled us to test our processes, check any potential areas of concern and ensure the minimum inconvenience to project participants going forward into the full-project stages.
The full Project commenced in the first quarter of 2013 with the recruitment of 150 participants and subsequent installation and surveying.
The Residential End Use Of Water Project – Summary report.
Eco-tip: Looking for water-efficient products and electrical-efficient appliances? Search certified products and appliances currently carrying the Abu Dhabi Quality and Conformity Council (QCC) Trustmark for Environmental Performance by category, brand, model name and/or model number on the QCC database.