We apply systems analysis to estimate household water use in an intermittent supply system considering numerous interdependent water user behaviors. Some 39 household actions include conservation; improving local storage or water quality; and accessing sources having variable costs, availabilities, reliabilities, and qualities. A stochastic optimization program with recourse decisions identifies the infrastructure investments and short-term coping actions a customer can adopt to cost-effectively respond to a probability distribution of piped water availability. Monte Carlo simulations show effects for a population of customers. Model calibration reproduces the distribution of billed residential water use in Amman, Jordan. Parametric analyses suggest economic and demand responses to increased availability and alternative pricing. It also suggests potential market penetration for conservation actions, associated water savings, and subsidies to entice further adoption. We discuss new insights to size, target, and finance conservation.
Article
Modeling Integrated Water User Decisions in Intermittent Supply Systems
Water Resources Research
Document Type
Article
Publisher
American Geophysical Union
Publication Date
1-1-2007
Disciplines
Abstract
Citation Information
David Rosenberg, Tareq Tawarneh, Rania Abdul-Khaleq, Jay Lund (2007). “Modeling Integrated Water-User Decisions in Intermittent Supply Systems.” Water Resources Research. 43. W07425, doi:10:1029/2006WR005340.
Originally published by the American Geophysical Union. Publisher's PDF and HTML fulltext can be accessed through Water Resources Research.
Note: David Rosenberg was affiliated with the University of California - Davis at time of publication.