Household water consumption behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic and its relationship with COVID-19 cases

Abstract

The use of existing water resources and sustainability problems as a result of global warming and climate change became an even bigger problem with the importance of hygiene during the COVID-19 pandemic. In this research, the water consumption behavior will be researched and the correlation between water consumption and COVID-19 case numbers will be investigated in Bursa, Turkey. The monthly mean water consumption for 758,500 domicile subscribers using the central tariff from 2018-2020 was calculated. Results obtained using the SPSS 23 IBM program observed a 20.18% increase in water consumption in Bursa in general during COVID-19. As Bursa province has both rural and industrial urban structures, when this increase is examined on a county basis, increase rates were 10% in regions with dense industry and mean 34% in rural areas. When the correlation between case numbers during the COVID-19 period (March 2020-January 2021) and water consumption is examined, a negative correlation is notable (Pearson-Correlation=-0.616). As the case numbers increased in the continuing COVID-19 pandemic, the reduction in water consumption may be explained by warnings to citizens to reduce water use through written and oral media due to reservoir fill rates falling below 5%. These results provide beneficial information revealing the effects of COVID-19 on water consumption behavior and use of water resources in urban and rural areas.

Domestic Water Consumption Behaviour Before and During COVID-19 Pandemic in Karang Pawitan District

“…Most of Karang Pawitan district's residents have moderate to low income instead of well educated. A study in Turkey showed that water consumption increment did by respondents in 26 -30 years old, respondent with high income and respondents with education background at primary and secondary school [7]. Habit is result of our most often behaviour.…”

“…The correlation between increasing water consumption and COVID-19 cases has been changed water quantity requirement. A five-person family required 50-100 litres of water per day to ensure hand hygiene and that there would be 20-25% increases in water requirements during the COVID-19 pandemic [7]. People's behaviour in washing hand increased in time average and frequent during this pandemic.…”

Global Events and Surge in Residential Water Demand: Exploring Possible Hydraulic Scenarios

“…Data on variations in water demand during lockdowns, cleanliness habits, and increased household activities were taken into consideration to support the 10% rise in water consumption during the pandemic. This estimate was supported by comparisons of pre-and post-pandemic water usage patterns from dependable sources like Alda-Vidal et al [11], Kim et al [12], Jia et al [13], Kasak [14], Sowdy and Hansen [17], Lüdtke et al [19], Kalbusch et al [32], Nemati and Tran [33], Gholami et al [34], Buurman et al [35], and Birisci and Ramazan [36]. The estimation of a hypothetical future outbreak, triggered by the already patented SARS-CoV-3 virus [10], allows for the current simulation with the projection of this higher estimate of 40% per pandemic [11], even though it may currently be deemed improbable.…”

“…The water demand projections, estimating the most significant lower and upper average percentages, are considered for this study at 10% and 40%, respectively, based on previous studies and hypothetical considerations [11][12][13][14]17,19,20,[32][33][34][35][36][37]. The water demand projections, estimating the most significant lower and upper average percentages, are considered for this study at 10% and 40%, respectively, based on previous studies and hypothetical considerations [11][12][13][14]17,19,20,[32][33][34][35][36][37] The number of runs around the median is less than the expected number, indicating some degree of clustering. The number of runs up or down is greater than expected, suggesting some trend or variability in the data series.…”

COVID-19 Küresel Sağlık Krizinin Çevresel Etki ve Sonuçları

“…COVID-19 salgını öncesinde ve sırasında Bursa'da gerçekleştirilen bir diğer araştırmada, COVID-19 ile su tüketim davranışlarındaki değişiklikler, artan su tüketimi ve rezervuarlarda mevcut su miktarlarındaki değişim arasındaki ilişki incelenmiştir. COVID-19 döneminde uzmanların hijyen kurallarına dikkat edilerek el yıkama sıklığının artması nedeniyle, beş kişilik bir ailenin el hijyenini sağlamak için günde 50-100 litre suya ihtiyacı olduğu ve su ihtiyacında %20-25 oranında artış olacağı yönündeki tespitlere paralel olarak, Bursa'daki konutların su tüketiminde %20,18'lik bir artış tespit edilmiştir (Birişçi, Öz, 2021).…”