Using Smart Demand-Metering Data and Customer Characteristics to Investigate Influence of Weather on Water Consumption in the UK

Abstract

Predicting water demand is necessary to ensure a secure water supply to homes and businesses. With great uncertainty around future changes in the climate and in UK households, it is essential to accurately determine the effect of weather on water consumption. A systematic approach based on smart demand-metering data and customer characteristics (e.g., metering status and garden ownership) was used to investigate the sensitivity of household water consumption to weather, for different consumer types and time-varying parameters. The following weather variables were analyzed: air temperature, soil temperature, humidity, precipitation, and sunshine hours. Results indicated that the effect of the weather on water consumption is moderate in the UK. This effect was more significant for affluent customers with high monthly variations in consumption and medium-occupancy households; and during work days, summers, and evenings. Sunshine hours, humidity, and air temperature were the most influential weather variables. Soil temperature had a milder influence, whereas daily rainfall had minimal impact.