Abstract
The installation of water efficient appliances is an efficient demand-side water management measure favored by policymakers and water providers nowadays. The adoption of low flow showerheads in large and complex plumbing systems will not only contribute to a great reduction of shower water use in the whole water system, but also further influence the water supply system design. Hence, it is necessary to justify the redesign of existing water supply systems (such as the pipe size, storage tank volume, pumping arrangement etc.) in terms of the use of low flow showerheads. This study uses Monte Carlo simulations to evaluate the design flow rate for a typical high-rise roof tank water supply system in Hong Kong with the installation of low flow showerheads. The simulation results indicate that a full installation of low flow showerheads can decrease the design flow rate by 15%, corresponding to an energy efficiency improvement of 1.5%. The potential for water savings and associated energy savings can be significantly higher when all installed appliances in homes are water efficient (e.g., showerheads, water taps, washing machines). Further work is required to evaluate the redesign of existing water supply systems for a sustainable future.
Highlights
Water conservation is a way to deal with water scarcity that affects more than 40% of the global population [1]
In order to encourage the use of low flow showerheads, a voluntary Water Efficiency Labelling Scheme (WELS) on showers for bathing has been implemented by the Hong Kong Government since 2009 [8]
This study investigates the design flow rate for a typical high-rise roof tank water supply system in Hong Kong with the installation of low flow showerheads
Summary
Water conservation is a way to deal with water scarcity that affects more than 40% of the global population [1]. In Hong Kong, domestic fresh water consumption accounts for over 50% of total fresh water consumption in the city [2]. Over 40% of the domestic fresh water consumption is for showering [3]. In order to encourage the use of low flow showerheads, a voluntary Water Efficiency Labelling Scheme (WELS) on showers for bathing has been implemented by the Hong Kong Government since 2009 [8]. Similar schemes can be found around the world, e.g., the Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards (WELS) scheme in Australia [9], the Water Efficiency Labelling Scheme (WELS) in Singapore [10], WaterSense in the United States [11], and the European Water Label in the European Union [12]
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