Modelling consumer demand in intermittent water supply (IWS) networks: evidence from Nepal

Modelling consumer demand under intermittent water supply (IWS) is an unresolved challenge. To understand withdrawal behaviours in more detail, fifty-six smart meters were installed in households across an IWS network in Lahan, Nepal. The most frequent withdrawal type was small withdrawals (median two litres), while large tank-filling-type behaviours contributed significantly to a household’s overall water consumption. Behaviour was highly heterogeneous; households with large storage tanks tended to practice tank-filling behaviour significantly more than those without. Consequently, a one-size-fits-all approach to consumer demand modelling may not always be appropriate and could lead to unrealistic predictions of supply inequality.