Conceptual Framework and Computational Research of Hierarchical Residential Household Water Demand

Wenxiang Pan,Ruixiang Yang,Weihua Xiao,Yong Zhao,Yuyan Zhou,Xuerui Gao,Xuzhu Zhan,Baodeng Hou,Baoqi Li,Wenkai Tian,Jianhua Wang

doi:10.3390/w10060696

Abstract

Although the quantity of household water consumption does not account for a huge proportion of the total water consumption amidst socioeconomic development, there has been a steadily increasing trend due to population growth and improved urbanization standards. As such, mastering the mechanisms of household water demand, scientifically predicting trends of household water demand, and implementing reasonable control measures are key focuses of current urban water management. Based on the categorization and characteristic analysis of household water, this paper used Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs to establish a level and grade theory of household water demand, whereby household water is classified into three levels (rigid water demand, flexible water demand, and luxury water demand) and three grades (basic water demand, reasonable water demand, and representational water demand). An in-depth analysis was then carried out on the factors that influence the computation of household water demand, whereby equations for different household water categories were established, and computations for different levels of household water were proposed. Finally, observational experiments on household water consumption were designed, and observation and simulation computations were performed on three typical households in order to verify the scientific outcome and rationality of the computation of household water demand. The research findings contribute to the enhancement and development of prediction theories on water demand, and they are of high theoretical and realistic significance in terms of scientifically predicting future household water demand and fine-tuning the management of urban water resources.

Highlights

Over the past 20 years, water consumption within mainland China has shown a slowly increasing trend, whereby a stable growth rate has been maintained in terms of household water consumptionWater 2018, 10, 696; doi:10.3390/w10060696 www.mdpi.com/journal/water (Figure 1)
Most of the time, only the total water consumption quantity is recorded, and there is no drinking, cooking, washing, and toilet flushing, while water for bathing, laundry, and home cleaning could be appropriately considered to fall into this group as well
Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs to establish a level and grade theory of household water demand, whereby household water is classified into three levels and three grades

Summary

Introduction

Over the past 20 years, water consumption within mainland China has shown a slowly increasing trend, whereby a stable growth rate has been maintained in terms of household water consumptionWater 2018, 10, 696; doi:10.3390/w10060696 www.mdpi.com/journal/water (Figure 1). Over the past 20 years, water consumption within mainland China has shown a slowly increasing trend, whereby a stable growth rate has been maintained in terms of household water consumption. 13.6% in 2016 (Figure 2, ecological water consumption statistics began in 2003). Following intensive efforts to establish a water-conserving society in China since 2002, there has been a slowdown in the growth of the ratio of urban household water consumption to total water consumption [1]. Household water consumption has still been showing a steadily increasing trend over a long period of Water. Statistics show that two-thirds of cities among the 668 cities in China experience different degrees oftwo-thirds water scarcity [3].

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion