Evaluation of the Water Scarcity Energy Cost for Users

Chiara M. Fontanazza, Gabriele Freni, Goffredo La Loggia, Vincenza Notaro and Valeria Puleo
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Chiara M. Fontanazza: Facoltà di Ingegneria ed Architettura, Università di Enna "Kore", Cittadella Universitaria, Enna 94100, Italy
Gabriele Freni: Facoltà di Ingegneria ed Architettura, Università di Enna "Kore", Cittadella Universitaria, Enna 94100, Italy
Goffredo La Loggia: Dipartimento di Ingegneria Civile, Ambientale, Aerospaziale e dei Materiali, Università di Palermo, viale delle Scienze, Palermo 90128, Italy
Vincenza Notaro: Facoltà di Ingegneria ed Architettura, Università di Enna "Kore", Cittadella Universitaria, Enna 94100, Italy
Valeria Puleo: Dipartimento di Ingegneria Civile, Ambientale, Aerospaziale e dei Materiali, Università di Palermo, viale delle Scienze, Palermo 90128, Italy

Energies, 2013, vol. 6, issue 1, 1-15

Abstract: In systems experiencing water scarcity and consequent intermittent supply, users often adopt private tanks that collect water during service periods and supply users when the service is not available. The tank may be fed by gravity or by private pumping stations depending on the network pressure level. Once water resources are collected, the tank can supply users by gravity if it is located on the rooftop or by additional pumping if underground. Private tanks thus increase the energy cost of the water supply service for users by introducing several small pumping structures inside the network. The present paper aims to evaluate this users’ energy cost for different private tank configurations. A real case study was analysed, and the results showed that intermittent distribution causes inequalities not only in users’ access to water resource but also costs that users have to bear to have access to water.

Keywords: distribution networks; energy cost; intermittent supply; water scarcity (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2013
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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