Drinking Water Supply and Systems

Water Demand Management

Peter M. Mawioo, PhD

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 Traditional Water Supply Management
➢ Traditional supply driven water management
‒ Water needs are “requirements” that must be met and not the
“demands” that are changeable.
‒ New facilities and structures are developed using available
sources to meet perceived “increasing” water needs.
➢ Traditional approach has led to over-use of the
resources, over-capitalization, pollution and other
problems of varying severity.
➢ Old paradigm of designing water supply with little
attention to demand determinants, pricing structures and
financial policies is not sustainable.

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 From water supply management (WSM)
to water demand management (WDM)
❑ WDM approach places water demands themselves, not
structural solutions, at the center of concern.
❑ WDM recommends the development of large, capital
intensive structures only after other possible options for
lowering or mitigating the proposed demands have been
fully analyzed.
❑ WDM and conservation represent the cheapest form of
easily available water. Particularly in the areas where
additional demands are being placed on water resources
which are already stretched to their limit

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 What is Water Demand Management?
❑ Water demand management (WDM) refers to any socially
beneficial action that reduces or modifies average or peak
water withdrawals or consumption consistent with
protection or enhancement of water quality.
❑ WDM can be defined as a strategy to improve efficiency
and sustainable use of water resources taking into account
economic, social and environmental considerations.
❑ WDM corresponds to use of price, quantitative restrictions
and other devices to limit the demand of water.

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 Benefits of WDM
✓ Reduces water demands (30% - 50%) with no deterioration in life
style or service level
✓ Significantly reduces capital requirements for expansion of water
supply and lowers operating costs (particularly chemicals and
energy)
✓ Reduces generation of pollutants, and therefore the requirements
for new or expanded wastewater treatment systems
✓ Facilitates expansion of the coverage of available fund
✓ Enhances the development and adoption of new technologies
✓ Leads to financially sustainable water systems

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WATER DEMAND MEASURES

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 Water Demand Management Measures

WDM relies upon a range of measures (tools and techniques)

which can be divided into

• Economic
• Socio-political, and
• Structural and operational

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 Economic Measures
Economic techniques depend on
• Incentives such as rebates, tax credits and
• Disincentives such as real cost, penalties, fines

Example: Realistic Water Pricing

• A direct means of controlling water demand and
generating revenues to cover costs
• Should be complementary to other measures of
water demand management

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 Socio-political Measures
▪ Policies and Laws
▪ Economic policies, government regulations, standards on
appliance redesign and marketing:
− policy to promote water saving devices
− encouraging water savings in industries
▪ Effective public/stakeholder education and awareness measures
▪ Wise use of water; direct restrictions on use

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 Structural and Operational Measures
Structural and operational measures are used to achieve
better control over water demand.
– Metering
– Retrofitting
– Controlling flow (rationing)
– Recycling & Reuse
– Use of water efficient devices e.g. automatic taps, spray
showers, dual flush system
– Reduction of Losses & UFW
➢ Leakage detection and repair
➢ Inspection of illegal connections
➢ Modern irrigation techniques
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 Structural and Operational Measures
Structural and operational measures are used to achieve
better control over water demand.
– Water use restrictions during periods of water
shortages
– Improved O&M
– Dual distribution system
✓Good quality for drinking and cooking
✓Lower quality for other uses

– Rainwater harvesting

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Questions & Comments

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