Report No DWI0635
UNMETERED DOMESTIC WATER CONSUMPTION IN SCOTLAND
DWI0635
Sept 1984
1. SUMMARY AND PRINCIPAL CONCLUSIONS
1.1 This report summarises a joint programme of work at central and local government level which was set in train to resolve speculation about the apparently high unit domestic consumption of water in Scotland. It draws together the main features of three aspects of the study: levels of consumption, the nature of consumption and methods of consumption measurement.
1.2 As a result of the work which has been undertaken, the historic concept of particularly high usage in Scotland has been disproved and no evidence was found of significant variation between Scottish regions.
1.3 In addition the studies have provided, for the first time in Scotland, a picture of patterns of water use by different sections of the community in terms of their ownership and frequency of use of the major water-using appliances in the home.
1.4 Aside from the basic purpose of the study it was found necessary to carry out a substantial programme of meter assessment as part of the process of validating the water quantity measurements. As part of this supporting work an effective method for in situ calibration of meters was developed and this also is discussed.
1.5 As part of the need to look forward in terms of water resources planning some attempts are made to assess the main components of domestic water use and the implications for these of changes in market penetration and pattern of use of domestic water appliances.
1.6 Principal Conclusions
Copies of this report may be available as an Acrobat pdf download under the 'Find Completed Research' heading on the DWI website.