ABSTRACT
RESUMO Este estudo propõe uma abordagem combinada do modelo força motriz-pressão-estado-impacto-resposta (FPEIR) com a modelagem de alocação de água para avaliar as estratégias de gerenciamento da demanda hídrica na bacia hidrográfica do rio Apodi-Mossoró (RN). O crescimento populacional aliado ao desenvolvimento econômico, a inadequada gestão e as mudanças climáticas são as forças motrizes para a escassez hídrica e os conflitos do sistema hídrico em análise. O Sistema Integrado de Gerenciamento dos Recursos Hídricos do estado é responsável pela gestão da bacia em foco. Os instrumentos da Política Nacional dos Recursos Hídricos (definidos pela Lei nº 9.433/97) encontram-se parcialmente implementados na bacia. A Companhia de Águas e Esgoto do Rio Grande do Norte (CAERN) projeta a ampliação do sistema hídrico. Nesta pesquisa, o sistema Apodi-Mossoró foi analisado frente a quatro estratégias de alocação e variações nas condições requeridas para os seus reservatórios. A análise realizada mostra falhas no atendimento às demandas do sistema, as quais poderão ser amenizadas nas estratégias que incorporam a gestão da demanda de água e o aporte das águas da transposição do Rio São Francisco. Os resultados permitem sugerir medidas adaptativas de economia de água, incluindo o seu reúso, como opções para um melhor planejamento e gerenciamento dos recursos hídricos da bacia.
ABSTRACT This study proposes a combined approach of the DPSIR (Driving forces-Pressures-State-Impact-Response) model with water allocation modeling to evaluate water demand management strategies in the Apodi-Mossoró River Basin (Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil). Population growth coupled with economic development, inadequate management and climate changes are the driving forces for water scarcity and the conflicts of under analysis here. The State's Integrated Water Resources Management System is responsible for managing the basin in focus. The instruments of the National Water Resources Policy (defined by Law 9.433/97) are partially implemented in the basin. The Water and Sewage Company of Rio Grande do Norte projects the expansion of the water system. In this research, the Apodi-Mossoró System was analyzed considering four allocation strategies and variations in the conditions required for its reservoirs. The analysis shows failures in meeting the demands of the system, which can be mitigated through strategies that incorporate water demand management and water transfers from the São Francisco River Basin. The outcomes suggest adaptive water saving measures, including water reuse, as options for better water planning and management in the basin.
ABSTRACT
RESUMO Este artigo descreve e discute os métodos usados, as dificuldades encontradas e os resultados obtidos em um programa de racionalização do uso da água desenvolvido por um programa de pesquisa da Universidade Federal da Bahia. Na universidade, foi alcançada redução de até 49% no consumo per capita. No aeroporto e em um shopping center de Salvador foram identificados cenários de reduções ainda maiores. Pesquisa de opinião justifica a admissão de alternativas inovadoras de grande impacto. Em um conjunto de prédios do Governo do Estado da Bahia as reduções atingiram 55, 72 e 82% nos três prédios mais comprometidos com o projeto. Os resultados obtidos levaram o Governo do Estado a estender o projeto a todos os seus prédios administrativos e às escolas públicas estaduais.
ABSTRACT This article describes and discusses methods, results obtained and difficulties found in a water-use rationalization program developed by a research program at the Federal University of Bahia. At the University we obtained a reduction of up to 49% in per capita consumption. At the airport and in a shopping center in Salvador we identified other scenarios for further reductions. Opinion survey justifies the admission of innovating high-impact alternatives. In a set of buildings of the State Government of Bahia, reductions reached 55, 72 and 82% in the three buildings most committed to the project. The results led the State Government to extend the project to all its administrative buildings and public schools.
ABSTRACT
Aims: To establish the system characteristics of a novel rainwater harvesting system. Study Design: A laboratory test rig was used to assess the selected technology. Place and Duration of Study: University of Exeter, Centre for Water Systems between June 2014 and May 2015. Methodology: Previous research has identified that systems should have: 1) reduced capital costs, 2) reduced operational costs and 3) increased ease of retrofitting. To investigate the system’s ability to address these requirements, two full-scale laboratory test rigs have been used to assess flow and power consumption characteristics under a range of installation scenarios. Results: The system was identified to have a mean power consumption of 0.12kWh/m3 during a one hour pump test. Electrical costs were found to increase when the power consumption of the 11W control board was taken into account. Conclusion: Subject to reduction of the standby power consumption of the controller, the novel RWH system assessed in this study has potential to provide non-potable water supplies to households in the UK at a lower power consumption rate than existing water supply systems identified in the literature.
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Aim: To explore the relation between water consumption and water use behaviour and attitudes, and devices applied in households in urban areas in India. Methodology and Study Site: This paper presents the results of a domestic water consumption survey carried out in Jaipur, India. A questionnaire containing over 60 questions was developed to collect information on households’ characteristics (e.g. family size, household type, and number of children), indoor and outdoor water use activities and their respective frequencies and durations. Information was also gathered on the volume of water used in each of these activities. Over 90 households of different types (standalone houses and apartments in a university campus and Jaipur city) participated in the survey. The survey results were analysed using cluster analysis and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). Results: The results show that the per capita consumption varies considerably with household type and size. The average water consumption was 183 and 215 litres/person/day for standalone households and apartments, respectively. Water used in bathing and WC's represent the highest proportion of water consumption in both stand-alone houses and apartments. Over 40% of the households reported no use of showers. The per capita water consumption is inversely related to family size especially in stand-alone houses. Conclusion: The information pertaining to water use habits and the qualitative and quantitative analysis can be used as an input to a proposed domestic water efficiency tool (DoWET) which can generate optimal water efficient composite strategies keeping in view a range of sustainability indicators including water saving potential, cost and associated energy consumption of the water saving devices and fixtures available in India.
ABSTRACT
Climate change, population growth, migration, urbanisation, and ageing infrastructure will all impose significant strains on the urban water services in Europe, and cities across Europe will experience increasingly frequent shortfalls in supply/demand balance. It is widely accepted that the mitigation of these and other emerging challenges should be sensitive to increasing energy prices, the environment, and the desire for low carbon intensity solutions. This paper presents the development of a new methodology for assessing the impact of household water savings from different water demand management interventions based on their water-related energy use and cost, as well as their impact on the supply/demand balance. The methodology has been applied to the water distribution system of a European city to demonstrate its application using different water demand management interventions for different types of water savings. Sensitivity analysis for different population growth rates that are representative of the different growth rates across the EU was carried out. The results show different degrees of water, energy, and cost savings can be achieved depending on the type (s) and proportion of household micro-component appliances and fittings considered. In all the intervention strategies considered, there are important trade-offs to be made between the different performance indicators as not all interventions will result in water savings and/or reductions in water-related energy use and costs or have a positive impact on supply/demand balance.