Stochastic Model to Evaluate Residential Water Demands

Abstract

The analysis and modeling of water distribution networks has been a well established engineering field for many years. However, important questions remain concerning the correct assessment of the spatial and temporal distribution of network user demands. To contribute to better knowledge and understanding of consumption patterns in an urban network, a stochastic model for residential water demand simulation is developed. The model is based on a rectangular pulse point process of residential consumption of given duration and intensity. Both variables are considered as statistically independent variables, with a nonhomogeneous point process used to describe pulse occurrences over time. The model includes a total of nine free parameters that define five different statistical functions. The parameters were calibrated from known demands in residential areas located in Milford, Ohio, and in Valencia, Spain. The model is also applied to the simulation of longer periods, with satisfactory agreement generally found between synthetic and historical series for most significant variables used in practical applications.