South East Queensland Residential End Use Study: Baseline Results - Winter 2010

Abstract

The primary aim of this study was to quantify and characterise mains water end uses in a sample of 252 residential dwellings located within South East Queensland (SEQ). This report presents the methodology, results and discussion on the baseline end use analysis for a two week period in winter (June 2010) and forms part of the Informed Decision Making research theme for the Urban Water Security Research Alliance. A mixed method approach was used, combining high resolution water meters, remote data transfer loggers, household water appliance audits and a self-reported household water use diary. Existing standard water meters were replaced with high resolution meters that are capable of providing 0.014 L/pulse outputs in five second intervals to wireless data loggers. A representative sample of received data was extracted from the database and disaggregated into all end use events associated with the sampled residential households. A water fixture/appliance stock survey on the study sample was conducted in order to qualify how householders interact with such stock. In addition to the stock survey, each household was asked to complete a water diary where as many internal and external water use events as possible were recorded over a seven day period. Both the water diary and stock survey greatly assisted data analysts to conduct the water end use trace analysis process. The water diary in particular allowed for greater accuracy in matching water volume patterns with a specific water appliance.