Temporal and Spatial Variation in Domestic Water Consumption: The Case of Wallonia, Belgium

Understanding factors influencing water consumption is vital for water utilities and policymakers to predict future demand accurately. Using Wallonia as a case study, mixed effect models were developed and validated to study the temporal and spatial variation in residential water consumption. Results confirmed the importance of household size, income, alternative sources of water, and dwelling characteristics (such as living area and garden) in explaining residential water demand. Additionally, an annual constant drop of 1.5% was observed for household water consumption from 2009 to 2018 in Wallonia. After controlling for these key factors, the location of the household still possesses a marginal, though significant, effect on water consumption.