Influence of a season on hourly and daily variations in water demand patterns in a rural water supply line – case study

Abstract

Abstract This article presents the results of a study on hourly and daily variations in water demand patterns, depending on a season. The study was conducted in the years 2014-2015 on a selected rural water supply line. The analysis was based on values of hourly water demand as measured by a water meter coupled with a recording device. The research showed that both the volume and fluctuations in daily water demand were higher in the spring and the summer, versus the autumn and the winter. This was most probably caused by water consumption for additional purposes, specific for rural areas. Individual water demand was the highest in the summer, and the lowest in the winter. Two peaks for hourly water demand were determined for the analyzed seasons. The morning peak always occurred at 7 a.m. on working days, while on days off work it fell at 9 a.m. or 10 a.m., depending on the season. The evening peak always fell at 8 p.m., regardless of a season or a day of a week. On working days, the evening peak was always higher than the morning one, while on days off work the morning peak was higher than the evening one in the autumn and in the winter, and both peaks were the same in the spring and in the summer.