The socio-technical short-term implications of drinking water hoarding on supply reliability

Author:

Satish Rahul1ORCID,Oberascher Martin1ORCID,Ender Monica2,Lampalzer Thomas2,Rief Silvia2,Sitzenfrei Robert1ORCID

Affiliation:

1. a Unit of Environmental Engineering, Department of Infrastructure Engineering, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria

2. b Department of Sociology, School of Social and Political Sciences, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria

Abstract

ABSTRACT Panic buying during crises, like the initial hoarding of toilet paper amid COVID-19 restrictions, is mainly driven by social and emotional factors influenced by risk perception and social media content. Similarly, unreasonable drinking water hoarding, i.e., simultaneous withdrawal of water by a large number of customers, can influence the performance of water supply systems (WSS). Decreasing performance (e.g., more friction losses and therefore a smaller outflow rate at faucets) can cause a negative feedback loop that might trigger further water hoarding behaviours. This research explores the socio-technical implications of water hoarding in crisis situations within a WSS. An analysis of an Alpine WSS in Austria reveals that up to 40% of households, with a filling rate of 0.1 L/s (bathtub filling), can hoard without performance drop and negative feedback. Beyond this threshold, impacts become noticeable, leading to inadequate water supply for some households, causing disruptions and negative feedback loops. This emphasizes the need for information campaigns to counter false information, preventing emotional triggers. In conclusion, the research highlights the interplay between technical and social factors in crisis water demand management, stressing the importance of informed interventions to mitigate hoarding behaviour and maintain efficient WSS operation.

Funder

Austrian security research programme KIRAS

Publisher

IWA Publishing

同舟云学术

1.学者识别学者识别

2.学术分析学术分析

3.人才评估人才评估

"同舟云学术"是以全球学者为主线,采集、加工和组织学术论文而形成的新型学术文献查询和分析系统,可以对全球学者进行文献检索和人才价值评估。用户可以通过关注某些学科领域的顶尖人物而持续追踪该领域的学科进展和研究前沿。经过近期的数据扩容,当前同舟云学术共收录了国内外主流学术期刊6万余种,收集的期刊论文及会议论文总量共计约1.5亿篇,并以每天添加12000余篇中外论文的速度递增。我们也可以为用户提供个性化、定制化的学者数据。欢迎来电咨询!咨询电话:010-8811{复制后删除}0370

www.globalauthorid.com

TOP

Copyright © 2019-2024 北京同舟云网络信息技术有限公司
京公网安备11010802033243号  京ICP备18003416号-3