Evaluating spatial and seasonal determinants of residential water demand across different housing types through data integration

Abstract

This study used a new approach in data integration to fully evaluate water consumption across different housing types, income groups and seasons in Auckland, New Zealand. Using urban GIS-based databases, we developed a sample of 60,000 dwellings through integration of water consumption, land use and census microdata. We find that household size is the major determinant of water use across all housing types in Auckland. But household water consumption, and its seasonal and spatial variations, is significantly higher in detached houses than in apartments due to greater outdoor water use.