Environment and Ecology Research Vol. 12(4), pp. 456 - 466
DOI: 10.13189/eer.2024.120410
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Demographic and Geographical Variations in Residential Drinking Water Consumption: A Case Study through Data Disaggregation in Ecuador

Alfonso Arellano ^1,*, Nadia Benalcázar ¹, Gabriela Arias ², Israel Ramírez ^1
1 Faculty of Engineering, Universidad Nacional de Chimborazo, Ecuador
² Faculty of Sciences, Escuela Superior Politécnica de Chimborazo, Ecuador

ABSTRACT

This study investigates household monthly drinking water consumption (HMDWC) across different regions and demographic segments in Ecuador. By disaggregating data and clustering according to homogeneous characteristics, the study ensures that average values are more accurate and representative of specific population groups. Data were collected from 65 towns and cities in the Ecuadorian Sierra and Amazonian regions, resulting in a comprehensive dataset of approximately 28 million records after outlier removal. The analysis reveals significant differences in monthly water consumption across five demographic ranges, confirmed by ANOVA (p-value < 0.001) and Tukey's Test. Medium-sized (8,000-30,000 inhabitants) and large towns (30,000-150,000 inhabitants) show higher average HMDWC compared to other ranges. Additionally, regional disaggregation highlights distinct consumption patterns between the Sierra and Amazonian regions. In the Sierra, larger towns exhibit stable consumption throughout the year, while smaller towns show peaks during the rainy season. Comparing regions, the Amazonian towns consistently demonstrate higher HMDWC than their Sierra counterparts. For instance, small towns (500-8,000 inhabitants) in the Amazonian region average 14.155 m^³/month, whereas in the Sierra, they average 13.607 m^³/month. This trend persists across medium and large towns, emphasizing the need for regional-specific water supply planning. The findings underscore the necessity of disaggregating data by region to achieve accurate planning of water supply systems. Without regional breakdown, the Amazonian region's water supply systems would be undersized, leading to poor resource management. Conversely, towns in the Sierra region would be misrepresented if their data were combined with those from the Amazonian region. This study provides critical insights for optimizing water resource management and planning in Ecuador. By illustrating the importance of detailed data analysis and regional disaggregation, it supports the sustainable management of water resources based on historical consumption patterns, ensuring effective and efficient water supply systems tailored to regional needs.

KEYWORDS
Demographic Geographical Disaggregation, Monthly Water Consumption

Cite This Paper in IEEE or APA Citation Styles
(a). IEEE Format:
[1] Alfonso Arellano , Nadia Benalcázar , Gabriela Arias , Israel Ramírez , "Demographic and Geographical Variations in Residential Drinking Water Consumption: A Case Study through Data Disaggregation in Ecuador," Environment and Ecology Research, Vol. 12, No. 4, pp. 456 - 466, 2024. DOI: 10.13189/eer.2024.120410.

(b). APA Format:
Alfonso Arellano , Nadia Benalcázar , Gabriela Arias , Israel Ramírez (2024). Demographic and Geographical Variations in Residential Drinking Water Consumption: A Case Study through Data Disaggregation in Ecuador. Environment and Ecology Research, 12(4), 456 - 466. DOI: 10.13189/eer.2024.120410.