Forecasting domestic water use in rapidly urbanizing areas in Asia

This paper summarizes some of the recent trends in domestic water use in both developed and developing countries, so as to better identify the principal factors influencing the demand. The focus is on the adoption of a more microapproach to demand forecasting, rather than the traditional use of overall averages, so as to move towards more cost effective and resource efficient supply schemes. An important aim of the paper is to alert designers of new water supply schemes in developing countries to the need to apply caution to the belief that per capita water use will continue to increase in tandem with the general economic development of the area being served, to the extent that it reaches the levels experienced in more developed countries. Survey data are presented from a range of locations to illustrate the trends in domestic water use for both connected households and community standpipes.