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Instantaneous Water Demand Estimates for Buildings with Efficient Fixtures

Douglas, Christopher J.
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1561996040464642

Abstract Details

2019, MS, University of Cincinnati, Engineering and Applied Science: Environmental Engineering.
Correct sizing of water meters and service lines in buildings has significant implications for water quality and resource management. Service lines need to be large enough to provide water at a reasonable pressure, but not so large that water residence times become excessive and bacteria proliferate within the line. Water meters should be sized to record accurate volumes of water at both high and low flows. Understanding the volume of water used by customers is critical for water utilities to set equitable rates and earn appropriate revenue. Moreover, accurate records of water use are vital for managing water as a resource at a regional scale. Peak use flow data were evaluated at 11 different multifamily buildings and compared against estimates from the Water Demand Calculator (WDC), a new tool for estimating peak water demand in residential buildings. The 99th percentile of observed water use was directly compared to the 99th percentile demand generated by the WDC using three different ways to account for the shower and bathtub. Based on the 11 sites analyzed over two weeks at each site, estimates from the WDC appear to more accurately estimate peak water demands in multifamily buildings than conventional methods such as the IPC, UPC, and M22. Moreover, using a Combined Bath/Shower approach yields more conservative estimates of peak water demand than separate baths and showers or only showers without baths. All three WDC estimates are more accurate than conventional methods. Based on high resolution water use data collected over two weeks at 43 different locations in Denver and Scottsdale, water meters and service lines generally appear to be oversized. Of the 43 sites analyzed, 37 might have recorded a more accurate volume of water if a smaller meter had been installed. Of these 37 sites which could have had downsized meters, 29 would have remained compliant with a 10 f/s limit some plumbing codes impose on water velocities in service lines.
Steven Buchberger, Ph.D. (Committee Chair)
Peter Mayer, MS (Committee Member)
Patrick Ray, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
56 p.
Water Resource Management
Premise Plumbing; Plumbing Demand; Water; Meter Sizing; Instantaneous Demand; Water Demand

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Douglas, C. J. (2019). Instantaneous Water Demand Estimates for Buildings with Efficient Fixtures [Master's thesis, University of Cincinnati]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1561996040464642

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Douglas, Christopher. Instantaneous Water Demand Estimates for Buildings with Efficient Fixtures. 2019. University of Cincinnati, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1561996040464642.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Douglas, Christopher. "Instantaneous Water Demand Estimates for Buildings with Efficient Fixtures." Master's thesis, University of Cincinnati, 2019. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1561996040464642

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

ucin1561996040464642
305
© 2019, some rights reserved.Creative Commons License Instantaneous Water Demand Estimates for Buildings with Efficient Fixtures by Christopher J. Douglas is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License. Based on a work at etd.ohiolink.edu.
This open access ETD is published by University of Cincinnati and OhioLINK.