<p>This study presents an activity-based mathematical model to assess daily per capita and regional water consumption in Saudi Arabian households (8.17 million, as per the Saudi Census Statistics, 2022). The model compares two scenarios: (a) the current scenario with standard fixtures and (b) the proposed scenario with efficient fixtures. Water consumption is analyzed based on daily activities and house zones. Under the current scenario, showering is the highest water-consuming activity, using 209-551 liters (23–29%), while the bathroom is the highest water-consuming house zone, using 436-1151 liters (48–60%) with current scenario. Regional water consumption is assessed based on average household size, with Riyadh, Makkah, and the Eastern Province exhibiting the highest daily per capita water consumption of 328-330 liters. These three regions contribute a cumulative daily water demand of 6.763 million <InlineEquation ID="IEq1"> <InlineMediaObject> <ImageObject Color="BlackWhite" FileRef="43995_2025_133_Article_IEq1.gif" Format="GIF" Height="16" Rendition="HTML" Resolution="72" Type="Linedraw" Width="22" /> </InlineMediaObject> <EquationSource Format="TEX">${m}^{3}$</EquationSource> <EquationSource Format="MATHML"><math> <msup> <mrow> <mi>m</mi> </mrow> <mn>3</mn> </msup> </math></EquationSource> </InlineEquation>, more than double the water demand of the remaining ten regions, which totals 3.171 million <InlineEquation ID="IEq2"> <InlineMediaObject> <ImageObject Color="BlackWhite" FileRef="43995_2025_133_Article_IEq1.gif" Format="GIF" Height="16" Rendition="HTML" Resolution="72" Type="Linedraw" Width="22" /> </InlineMediaObject> <EquationSource Format="TEX">${m}^{3}$</EquationSource> <EquationSource Format="MATHML"><math> <msup> <mrow> <mi>m</mi> </mrow> <mn>3</mn> </msup> </math></EquationSource> </InlineEquation>. This variation highlights the limitations of nationwide assessments and emphasizes region-specific water management strategies to address water security challenges in Saudi Arabia. The study further analyzes water savings under the proposed efficient fixtures scenario, achieving a reduction of 83-93 liters per capita, resulting in a nationwide daily water saving of 2.806 million <InlineEquation ID="IEq3"> <InlineMediaObject> <ImageObject Color="BlackWhite" FileRef="43995_2025_133_Article_IEq1.gif" Format="GIF" Height="16" Rendition="HTML" Resolution="72" Type="Linedraw" Width="22" /> </InlineMediaObject> <EquationSource Format="TEX">${m}^{3}$</EquationSource> <EquationSource Format="MATHML"><math> <msup> <mrow> <mi>m</mi> </mrow> <mn>3</mn> </msup> </math></EquationSource> </InlineEquation>. The mathematical model developed is flexible, enabling forecasts of water consumption based on hybrid scenarios combining standard and efficient fixtures. The findings have significant implications for the sustainable management of water resources, contributing directly to Clean Water and Sanitation (Sustainable Development Goal 6) by informing strategies for efficient water use and conservation in Saudi Arabia.</p>

Activity-based mathematical modeling of household water consumption across regions: proposing efficient fixtures for sustainable water management in Saudi Arabia

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2025年6月1日

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Hafiz Abdul Wajid

摘要

This study presents an activity-based mathematical model to assess daily per capita and regional water consumption in Saudi Arabian households (8.17 million, as per the Saudi Census Statistics, 2022). The model compares two scenarios: (a) the current scenario with standard fixtures and (b) the proposed scenario with efficient fixtures. Water consumption is analyzed based on daily activities and house zones. Under the current scenario, showering is the highest water-consuming activity, using 209-551 liters (23–29%), while the bathroom is the highest water-consuming house zone, using 436-1151 liters (48–60%) with current scenario. Regional water consumption is assessed based on average household size, with Riyadh, Makkah, and the Eastern Province exhibiting the highest daily per capita water consumption of 328-330 liters. These three regions contribute a cumulative daily water demand of 6.763 million ${m}^{3}$ $m^{3}$ , more than double the water demand of the remaining ten regions, which totals 3.171 million ${m}^{3}$ $m^{3}$ . This variation highlights the limitations of nationwide assessments and emphasizes region-specific water management strategies to address water security challenges in Saudi Arabia. The study further analyzes water savings under the proposed efficient fixtures scenario, achieving a reduction of 83-93 liters per capita, resulting in a nationwide daily water saving of 2.806 million ${m}^{3}$ $m^{3}$ . The mathematical model developed is flexible, enabling forecasts of water consumption based on hybrid scenarios combining standard and efficient fixtures. The findings have significant implications for the sustainable management of water resources, contributing directly to Clean Water and Sanitation (Sustainable Development Goal 6) by informing strategies for efficient water use and conservation in Saudi Arabia.