Practical Implication of Tap Water Consumtpion Structure in Rural Households

The aim of the study was to determine the structure of tap water consumption in rural households. The structure was analyzed based on direct measurements of water consumption carried out in the years 2011–2014 in 70 households in Rybna (Czernichów commune, Małopolska region). Thanks to two metering points (water supply connection and water supply point outside a residential building), it was possible to determine water consumption for the household and other purposes. The collected data indicated significant discrepancies between actual water consumption and those recommended in various guidelines. The analysis of water consumption structure showed that these discrepancies were also found for the amount of domestic sewage discharged from the rural households. This fact has significant practical implications, as the calculated metrics of unit water consumption are used during design and technical renovation of individual elements of water supply systems and for billing the inhabitants for water consumption in the households without a water meter (lump sum). The study also demonstrated inadequacy of the rule assuming that sewage amount is equal to the amount of water consumed in rural households, which is commonly used in design of sewerage networks and for calculating charges for sewage discharge.