Linking water consumption smart metering with census data to improve demand management

This study uses high-frequency water consumption data from 311 smart meters to link consumption with census data. For this purpose a well-established procedure was adopted. Results include the identification of the socio-demographic profiles associated to low, medium, medium-high and high water consumption groups and distinct daily consumption patterns in terms of the period of the day with maximum consumption: (i) morning period, (ii) morning and lunch period, (iii) dinner period. The main socio-demographic drivers to accurately understand water consumption within their different patterns were identified and refer to the characteristics of the population – rented middle size dwellings, middle size families, average educated (high school level) and professionally active population.