Setting standards for the future based on evidence from the past – a UK perspective on the success of the approach

2014 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 33-41
Author(s):  
S. Homewood ◽  
C. Snowdon
Keyword(s):  
Water Use ◽  
Research Centre ◽  
Water Efficiency ◽  
Building Regulations ◽  
Design Standard ◽  
Voluntary Standards ◽  
Mandatory Requirement ◽  
Water Companies ◽  
End Use ◽  
The Uk

The Water Research Centre has collated, over a number of years, quantitative end-use (micro-component) water consumption information for over 700 properties in England and Wales. For a sample of this size, this is the most detailed set of data in the UK, and was used to inform some of the mandatory and voluntary standards that are in place in the UK today. One such standard is in the new edition of Part G of the Building Regulations, published in 2010, which includes a water efficiency requirement for the first time. This is a whole-of-house water use standard set at a maximum of 125 litres per person per day. The voluntary Code for Sustainable Homes (the Code) also has a series of standards for water use in new homes varying from 90 to 120 litres per person per day. Both of these standards allow flexibility for people to choose what is installed in a new home (including new emerging technologies) provided they can achieve the specified water use figure. Whilst the Code is purely a design standard, the Building Regulation is a mandatory requirement and homes built to the building regulations should be inspected post-installation to confirm the devices installed have specifications in-line with the design standard. To help inform the UK Government on the success of the approach, and to aid UK water companies develop 25 year projections of demand as part of their water resources planning, research assessing the real consumption of homes designed to these water efficiency standards has been carried out. Meter readings from a sample of homes were analysed alongside property information to identify actual water use and trends amongst property cohorts. Results from our statistical analysis show that occupancy is the single most significant factor influencing per capita consumption and whether a home meets a given water efficiency design standard.

The Constructed Wetland Association UK database of constructed wetland systems

2007 ◽  
Vol 56 (3) ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Cooper
Keyword(s):  
Constructed Wetland ◽  
Sewage Treatment ◽  
Domestic Wastewater ◽  
Industrial Effluents ◽  
Research Centre ◽  
Road Runoff ◽  
Water Companies ◽  
And Performance ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Design Construction

There are now more than 1,000 constructed wetland systems (CWs) in the UK. The first UK CW database was constructed by Water Research Centre (WRc) and Severn Trent Water Ltd to accompany a book on the design and performance of these systems. In that database, constructed by Gareth Job et al. (1996), only 154 beds were listed, most of which were tertiary sewage treatment sites in Severn Trent Water. The Constructed Wetland Association (CWA) was formed in 2000 as a UK water industry body in response to problems caused by unscrupulous constructors. A group of experienced, reputable designers and constructors formed the CWA to bring together best UK practice in order to counteract this problem. The group contains major water companies, designers, constructors, academics, plant growers and operators. They decided that one of the best ways of countering the problem was to assemble a database of design and performance from well-designed systems. After negotiation the CWA group took over responsibility for the database from WRc. The CWA has produced eight updates of the database which now contains information from more than 900 beds. It contains examples of the different variants of CWs in use in the UK. Most of these sites treat sewage/domestic wastewater but the database also includes examples of systems for the treatment of minewater, sludge, landfill leachate, industrial effluents, surface runoff and road runoff. Particular treatment applications are illustrated by case studies which are summary articles describing design, construction and performance.

Using measured microcomponent data to model the impact of water conservation strategies on the diurnal consumption profile

2005 ◽  
Vol 5 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 145-150 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Kowalski ◽  
D. Marshallsay
Keyword(s):  
Water Conservation ◽  
Collaborative Research ◽  
Conservation Strategies ◽  
Research Centre ◽  
Demand Reduction ◽  
Reduction Strategies ◽  
Water Companies ◽  
Environment Agency ◽  
The Uk ◽  
The Impact

A recent collaborative research project by the Water Research Centre (WRc), involving 13 water companies and the UK Environment Agency, has yielded further information on the microcomponents of water use in domestic properties in the UK. Investigating the uncertainty and diurnal variations of the data has allowed the investigation of demand reduction strategies at household and supply area levels. The paper expands on these issues and discusses how this approach can be used to help plan and manage water supply in the future.

Methods of Estimating the Discharge of Gross Solids from Combined Sewer Systems

1992 ◽  
Vol 26 (5-6) ◽  
pp. 1295-1304 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Jefferies
Keyword(s):  
Research Centre ◽  
Combined Sewer Overflows ◽  
Water Research ◽  
Sewer Systems ◽  
Combined Sewer ◽  
Sewer Overflows ◽  
The Uk

Visible pollution discharged from two combined sewer overflows were studied using passive Trash Trap devices and the UK Water Research Centre Gross Solids Sampler. Relationships are presented for the number of visible solids and the mass of gross solids discharged during an event. The differences in the behaviour of the overflow types are reported on and they are categorised using the Trash Traps.

Static grid carbon factors – Can we do better?

2021 ◽  
pp. 014362442199196
Author(s):  
Jamie Risner ◽  
Anna Sutherland
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Emissions ◽  
Regional Analysis ◽  
Electricity Consumption ◽  
Carbon Intensity ◽  
External Temperature ◽  
Building Regulations ◽  
Calculation Methodology ◽  
Alternative Methodology ◽  
The Uk ◽  
The Impact

The average carbon intensity (gCO2e/kWh) of electricity provided by the UK National Grid is decreasing and becoming more time variable. This paper reviews the impact on energy calculations of using various levels of data resolution (half hourly, daily, monthly and annual) and of moving to region specific data. This analysis is in two parts, one focused on the potential impact on Part L assessments and the other on reported carbon emissions for existing buildings. Analysis demonstrated that an increase in calculated emissions of up to 12% is possible when using an emissions calculation methodology employing higher resolution grid carbon intensity data. Regional analysis indicated an even larger calculation discrepancy, with some regions annual emissions increasing by a factor of ten as compared to other regions. This paper proposes a path forward for the industry to improve the accuracy of analysis by using better data sources. The proposed change in calculation methodology is analogous to moving from using an annual average external temperature to using a CIBSE weather profile for a specific city or using a future weather file. Practical application: This paper aims to quantify the inaccuracy of a calculation methodology in common use in the industry and key to building regulations (specifically Building Regulations Part L – Conservation of Fuel and Power) – translating electricity consumption into carbon emissions. It proposes an alternative methodology which improves the accuracy of the calculation based on improved data inputs.

scholarly journals Seasonal Variation of Rainy and Dry Season Per Capita Water Consumption in Freetown City Sierra Leone

Water ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 499
Author(s):  
Salmatta Ibrahim A ◽  
Fayyaz Ali Memon ◽  
David Butler
Keyword(s):  
Seasonal Variation ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Water Consumption ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Rainy Season ◽  
Predictor Variable ◽  
Dry Season ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Per Capita ◽  
End Use

Ensuring a sustainable urban water supply for developing/low-income countries requires an understanding of the factors affecting water consumption and technical evidence of individual consumption which can be used to design an improved water demand projection. This paper compared dry and rainy season water sources available for consumption and the end-use volume by each person in the different income groups. The study used a questionnaire survey to gather household data for a total of 398 households, which was analysed to develop the relationship between per capita water consumption characteristics: Socio-economic status, demographics, water use behaviour around indoor and outdoor water use activities. In the per capita water consumption patterns of Freetown, a seasonal variation was found: In the rainy season, per capita water consumption was found to be about 7% higher than the consumption for the full sample, whilst in the dry season, per capita water consumption was almost 14% lower than the full survey. The statistical analysis of the data shows that the average per capita water consumption for both households increases with income for informal slum-, low-, middle- and high-income households without piped connection (73, 78, 94 and 112 L/capita/day) and with connection (91, 97, 113 and 133 L/capita/day), respectively. The collected data have been used to develop 20 statistical models using the multiple linear stepwise regression method for selecting the best predictor variable from the data set. It can be seen from the values that the strongest significant relationships of per capita consumption are with the number of occupants (R = −0.728) in the household and time spent to fetch water for use (R = −0.711). Furthermore, the results reveal that the highest fraction of end use is showering (18%), then bathing (16%), followed by toilet use (14%). This is not in agreement with many developing countries where toilet use represents the largest component of indoor end use.

Suppliers in the privatised UK wastewater market and their possible moves towards integrated solutions

Water Policy ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 8 (6) ◽  
pp. 559-572 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charlotta Windahl
Keyword(s):  
Value Chain ◽  
Support Services ◽  
System Integration ◽  
Business Models ◽  
Spare Parts ◽  
New Business ◽  
Water Companies ◽  
The Uk ◽  
New Business Models ◽  
New Strategies

An increasing number of companies in the capital goods industry are turning towards new strategies where the focus is to add value for customers by providing integrated solutions (combining products and services), instead of selling components, spare parts and support services. These new strategies represent moves in the value chain and create a need for new business models as well as new competencies. In this paper, the fairly new concept of integrated solutions is explored in the context of a privatised industry. The findings are based on empirical case studies carried out at two companies supplying products and services to the UK wastewater industry. In the UK, both water companies and their suppliers are influenced by economic and environmental regulations, an increased focus on cost, and outsourcing. On one hand, the two manufacturers have increased their competence with respect to system integration and operational services – competencies for supplying integrated solutions. On the other hand, a fragmented and vertically structured market with a multitude of different actors increases the distance between the water companies and the manufacturers. In addition, the division of the industry into a capital and operational side complicates the coordination between new sales and services.

scholarly journals Efficiency of water use and nitrogen for goat milk production in irrigated pasture to different management

2016 ◽  
Vol 68 (5) ◽  
pp. 1374-1380
Author(s):  
A.C.R. Cavalcante ◽  
P.M. Santos ◽  
J.A.A. C. Júnior ◽  
M.J.D. Cândido ◽  
N.L.S. Lemos
Keyword(s):  
Milk Production ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Goat Milk ◽  
Nitrogen Efficiency ◽  
Panicum Maximum ◽  
Intensive Management ◽  
Water Efficiency ◽  
Forage Production ◽  
Use Efficiency

ABSTRACT The aim was to determine the efficiency of use of water and nitrogen for forage production and goat-milk production on an irrigated Tanzania Guineagrass (Panicum maximum cv. Tanzânia) pasture subjected to different management practices. The management levels tested were combinations among nitrogen fertilization levels and post-grazing residual heights (ResH): Intensive (ResH = 33.0cm and 600.0kg N/ha.year-1); Moderate (ResH = 47.0cm and 300.0kg N/ha.year-1); Light (ResH = 47cm and 0kg N/ha.year-1); and Conventional (ResH = 33cm and 0kg N/ha year-1). The efficiency of water use for forage production was higher in intensive and Moderate management. The Conventional management was recommended only for forage production since there is no nitrogen input available because this result was similar to Intensive management in water efficiency. The efficiency of water use to produce goat milk was higher in Intensive management. Moderate management presented higher efficiency of nitrogen to produce forage. On the other hand, Intensive management was more efficient using nitrogen in goat milk production. The amount of water needed to produce one liter of goat milk varied from 893.20 to 3,933.50L. In the moderate management, up to 121.48kg forage and 21.56kg of milk were produced for every kilogram of N utilized. Intensive management is advantageous for water use efficiency as well nitrogen efficiency to produce goat milk in cultivated pasture.

scholarly journals Water Performance Benchmarks for New Zealand: Understanding Water Consumption in Commercial Office Buildings

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Lee Ellen Bint
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Water Consumption ◽  
Office Buildings ◽  
Target Market ◽  
Demand Side ◽  
Water Efficiency ◽  
Water Shortages ◽  
Performance Benchmarks ◽  
Tariff Structures

<p>There is an increasing amount of literature outlining the issues underlying water shortages and restrictions to come in most regions of New Zealand. The problem is not helped by rising demands and climatic changes, as well as both a lack of measured data, and a lack of any demand-side incentives. No attempt has been made to assess how the users of commercial buildings are consuming potable water. There are no benchmarks for water performance in buildings, hindering attempts to improve water efficiency.  This study investigated the water use in 93 Auckland and Wellington commercial office buildings. The data collected from both survey level water audits (on-site investigations, historic billing analysis) and full water audits (water monitoring), were used to develop market-based water performance benchmarks, and a Water Efficiency Rating Tool (WERT). This was done to understand water consumption in these buildings, and to determine the feasibility of using performance based data for the development of a water benchmarking system.  The principal results were in the form of both a benchmarking index system, and the WERT. The benchmarking study found that Net Lettable Area (NLA) was the most statistically and pragmatically appropriate driver for water use. lt also found that, due to the distinct difference in tariff structures and incentives between Auckland and Wellington, different benchmarks for the two regions (Auckland 'Typical' use 0.76m³ / m² / year, and Wellington 'Typical' use 1.03m³ / m² / year) were required.  The WERT calculates a building Water Use Index (WUI- m³ / m² / year) , estimates its end-use disaggregation, and provides recommendations through outlining the financial viability of implementing specific water efficiency measures. This tool utilised six design criteria to ensure target market usability: accuracy (demonstrated at ±8. 5%) ; relevance and realism; practicality; promotion of understanding and action; objectivity; and effective communication.  Further recommendations included satisfying some of the many knowledge gaps present in the New Zealand water industry concerning office building water use. These included: introducing a national legislative or standard document providing guidelines on demand-side management of water; investigation into changing tariff structures to include a volumetric charge for all building types to increase individual awareness and education of water use; research into the durability of water meters; and expanding the research to include other New Zealand regions.</p>

scholarly journals Using smart meters to identify social and technological impacts on residential water consumption

2011 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 527-533 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cara Beal ◽  
Rodney A. Stewart ◽  
Anneliese Spinks ◽  
Kelly Fielding
Keyword(s):  
Water Use ◽  
Community Education ◽  
Demand Management ◽  
High Water ◽  
Management Policy ◽  
Smart Meters ◽  
Water Users ◽  
Residential Water Consumption ◽  
End Use ◽  
Demographic Surveys

Studies have shown that householders' perceptions of their water use are often not well matched with their actual water use. There has been less research, however, investigating whether this bias is related to specific types of end use and/or specific types of socio-demographic and socio-demographic household profiles. A high resolution smart metering study producing a detailed end use event registry as well as psycho-social and socio-demographic surveys, stock inventory audits and self-reported water diaries was completed for 250 households located in South-east Queensland, Australia. The study examined the contributions of end uses to total water use for each group identified as ‘low’, ‘medium’ or ‘high’ water users. Analyses were conducted to examine the socio-demographic variables such as income, percentage of water efficient stock, family size and composition, that characterise each self-identified water usage group. The paper concludes with a discussion of the general characteristics of groups that overestimate and underestimate their water use and how this knowledge can be used to inform demand management policy such as targeted community education programmes.

Disentangling uncertainties in risk-based planning of water resources in the UK

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesca Pianosi ◽  
Andres Penuela-Fernandez ◽  
Christopher Hutton
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Sensitivity Analysis ◽  
Monte Carlo ◽  
Water Resources ◽  
Water Resources Planning ◽  
Adaptive Planning ◽  
Water Companies ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Resources Planning

&lt;p&gt;Proper consideration of uncertainty has become a cornerstone of model-informed planning of water resource systems. In the UK Government&amp;#8217;s 2020 Water Resources Planning Guidelines, the word &amp;#8220;uncertainty&amp;#8221; appears 48 times in 82 pages. This emphasis on uncertainty aligns with the increasing adoption by UK water companies of a &amp;#8220;risk-based&amp;#8221; approach to their long-term decision-making, in order to handle uncertainties in supply-demand estimation, climate change, population growth, etc. The term &amp;#8220;risk-based&amp;#8221; covers a range of methods - such as &amp;#8220;info-gap&amp;#8221;, &amp;#8220;robust decision-making&amp;#8221; or &amp;#8220;system sensitivity analysis&amp;#8221; - that come under different names but largely share a common rationale, essentially based on the use of Monte Carlo simulation. This shift in thinking from previous (deterministic) &amp;#8220;worst-case&amp;#8221; approach to a &amp;#8220;risk-based&amp;#8221; one is important and has the potential to significantly improve water resources planning practice. However its implementation is diminished by a certain lack of clarity about the terminology in use and about the concrete differences (and similarities) among methods. On top of these difficulties, in the next planning-cycle (2021-2026) two further step changes are introduced: (1) water companies are requested to move from a cost-efficiency approach focused on achieving the supply-demand balance, towards a fully multi-criteria approach that more explicitly encompasses other objectives including environmental sustainability; (2) as a further way to handle long-term uncertainties, they are required to embrace an &amp;#8220;adaptive planning&amp;#8221; approach. These changes will introduce two new sets of uncertainties around the robust quantification of criteria, particularly environmental ones, and around the attribution of weights to different criteria. This urgently calls for establishing structured approaches to quantify not only the uncertainty in model outputs, but also the sensitivity of those outputs to different forms of uncertainty in the modelling chain that mostly control the variability of the final outcome &amp;#8211; the &amp;#8220;best value&amp;#8221; plan. Without this understanding of critical uncertainties, the risk is that huge efforts are invested on characterising and/or reducing uncertainties that later turn out to have little impact on the final outcome; or that water managers fall back to using oversimplified representation of those uncertainties as a way to escape the huge modelling burden. In this work, we aim at starting to establish a common rationale to &amp;#8220;risk-based&amp;#8221; methods within the context of a fully multi-criteria approach. We use a proof-of-concept example of a reservoir system in the South-West of England to demonstrate the use of global (i.e. Monte Carlo based) sensitivity analysis to simultaneously quantify output uncertainty and sensitivity, and identify robust decisions. We also discuss the potential of this approach to inform the construction of a &amp;#8220;decision tree&amp;#8221; for adaptive planning.&lt;/p&gt;

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