Measuring Individual Water Consumption: an Incentive to Urban Areas Sustainability

Micaella Raíssa Falcão de Moura M.Sc. Student, Civil Engineering Postgraduate Program, University of , , e-mail: [email protected]

Ingrid Kellen de Lima Pereira M.Sc. Student, Civil Engineering Postgraduate Program, University of Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil e-mail: [email protected]

Simone Rosa da Silva Professor, Civil Engineering Postgraduate Program, University of Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil e-mail: [email protected]

Filipa Malafaya Baptista Professor, Civil Engineering Postgraduate Program, University of Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil e-mail: [email protected]

ABSTRACT The conscious use of natural resources in order to ensure environmental preservation and simultaneously economic development has been one of the major challenges faced by contemporary society. In order to meet this challenge, the concept of sustainability and its application in the construction sector arises. Among the various actions related to sustainability, there is the preservation of water resources through practices aimed at reducing water consumption. The system of individual water measuring in multifamily buildings is one of the technological and sustainable actions that can be applied in large urban centers in order to reduce water waste and establish a fair charge for its consumption. This study aims to identify the various sustainability aspects present in individual water measurement, as well as the efficiency of the adoption of this system in urban areas through environmental, social and economic analysis. For such purpose, individual water consumptions referring to the first 11 months of the year 2012 were analyzed in 22 houses of a condominium in the city of Gravatá- PE. The evaluation of the data obtained, associated to the studied area framing makes it possible to conclude that individual water measurement allows each user to have greater control over their own consumption, being of fundamental importance to establish equality among occupants. KEYWORDS: Individual water measurement; Sustainability; Water consumption.

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INTRODUCTION

The increasing population density in large urban centers accompanied by a higher water consumption, along with new life quality standards, has become progressively common around the world, leading to the adoption of optimal water usage measures.

Indeed, water scarcity, either in quality or in quantity, and water sources pollution are problems that result from the misuse of water and led to a proactive attitude in finding alternative management processes for water resources that seek to solve these problems. The individual water metering is an alternative that aims to reduce the environmental damage caused by man, besides being a question of equality between joint owners.

This work, entitled "Measuring individual water consumption: an incentive to sustainability in urban areas", aims to identify the various aspects of sustainability present in the implementation of individual water metering systems in urban areas as well as encouraging the adoption of this system in order to reduce consumption and water waste.

The research derives from the characterization of sustainability, particularly in terms of construction sustainability, and points out water management at the building level, also considering legislation that currently supports this new approach of measuring individualized consumption. Through a case study, consumption conditions are analyzed within a condominium, comparing the traditional situation of global measurement and the situation of individualized measuring, identifying the consequences of implementing individual water consumption metering.

This work covers different information sources, whether qualitative or quantitative, and involves a literature review on the theme.

WATER MANAGEMENT SUSTAINABILITY IN BUILDINGS

Classification of General Concepts The sustainable development concept has taken a shift in the perspective which traditionally saw development as an opposite of environmental preservation (Haughton and Counsell, 2004).The process of sustainable development involves thinking in a broader scope, the goals and effects of actions, including social, economic, environmental and spatial effects, thinking about its costs and benefits. It implies combining objectives which improve life quality in general, rather than pursuing individual goals (DoE, 1998; Malafaya-Baptista, 2007).

Regarding the application of this concept in construction, different key areas of construction sustainability are considered, among others, water management. This issue is particularly relevant to water management at the network building level, seeking to limit possible interference in the natural water cycle and reducing consumption. This implies changes in behavior and the introduction of new technologies that allow on one hand to save water and on the other to store water (Tirone and Nunes, 2007; Mateus and Bragança, 2006; Ferreira, 2008). Vol. 19 [2014], Bund. I 2073

Individual Water Metering

Building networks management and water consumption reduction undergoes by, among others, the use of water individual measurement systems. According to Coelho (2007), in the system traditionally used for water measurement in multifamily buildings, the services charge are carried out by the average consumption obtained by the hydrometer registered in the extension of the building. The volume is prorated by the number of apartments and its charge is done using average consumption. Therefore this type of traditional measurement system does not encourage the reduction of water waste since even if the user is careful, that attitude will not be reflected in direct savings on his water bill because it results from an average that accounts for users whose consumption behavior is inadequate.

For this author, the individual water metering system in apartments consists in the installation of a water meter on each housing unit, so that it is possible to measure their consumption in order to issue individual bills. Among other advantages, the implementation of the system helps to identify leaks and ruptures that may exist in the building´s hydraulic system, thus avoiding the waste of water. For Tomaz (1999), the system of individual metering is the use of individual meters for apartments, RV´s and condominiums supplies in which water is charged by a main meter or by individual meters. Coelho (1999) adds that in the individual metering system, the water/sanitation bill will be established for each apartment by the service concessionaire, based on the consumption recorded in the individual water meter, plus the prorated amount regarding the common building consumptions.

Thus, in the individual measurement system, the user will bear the expense relating to his consumption recorded in the individual meter of the apartment. Coelho (1999) points out that the installation of water meters in apartments of multifamily buildings consists in the application of the concept of justice, allowing each user to pay their own water bill proportionally to what he consumed. Thus, the system of individual measurement is presented as a technological action towards a sustainable water usage, helping to reduce consumption and the waste of water in buildings.

Individual Measuring System in Brazil and Supporting Legislation

Individual water metering is being implemented in several Brazilian cities. The encouragement for the implementation of individual water metering systems in existing buildings allows each user to have greater control over his consumption, which leads to an attitude of rational water use.

The search for more equitable criteria for measuring the consumption of water has motivated the adoption of law projects concerning the obligatory individualization of water metering in buildings. Law Nr. 8,078, September 1990, established the Code of Consumer Protection, which ensures in article 4, that the installation of water meters in apartments constitutes the most rational and simplest way to guarantee the rights of citizens, which does not occur in the global measurement system, in which costs are often paid for other people's water waste.

According to Tomaz (1999), the first experiments in Brazil related to individual metering in apartments were held in the city of Guarulhos, in São Paulo. Pernambuco, however, is the pioneer Brazilian state to adopt a large scale process of water bills quantification through individual Vol. 19 [2014], Bund. I 2074 metering by each apartment, being this system implemented in the year of 1994 (Coelho, 2007). According to the Pernambuco Sanitation Company (COMPESA), between 1994 and 2012, more than 70,424 water meters were installed in 3,837 buildings/condominiums in the state.

According to Coelho (1999), in the beginning of the individual metering process in apartments, there was no precise knowledge of how to make modifications to building facilities, so the process of adapting old buildings was slow. The author also mentions that it was necessary to develop the technical knowledge on the implementation regarding the modifications, in order to strictly comply with the rules for the implementation and materials specification established by ABNT.

The absence of regulation which establishes, at a national level, the mandatory adoption of individual water metering system in buildings had the effect that laws on the subject are being implemented at municipal level. In some cases, state laws that overlap municipal laws are established. In the state of Pernambuco, for example, Law 16,759 of the city of Recife from 2002, instituted mandatory installation of individual water meters in buildings.

SUSTAINABILITY AND INDIVIDUAL WATER METERING

As mentioned above, sustainability of constructive processes involves an integrated approach to objectives and its social, environmental and economic effects. Regarding social aspects, it is observed that the social actions through educational and awareness campaigns provide benefits that imply reductions in water consumption due to the performance of appropriate water use procedures in activities and the change in individual behavior. Coelho (1999) approaches the social aspects of individual water metering according to different points of view:

• From the consumer’s point of view: through water consumption individual measurement the consumer now pays proportionally to what he consumes and will not pay for other consumers waste, which contributes to an awareness and reduction of water consumption. In this perspective, the user complying with his obligations has no risk of having his service cut due to the irresponsibility of defaulters. Individualization also allows that internal leaks in the apartments are more easily identified;

• From the concessionary’s point of view: individual water meters installation in buildings tends to reduce proprietors default, for the service is only suspended from defaulters, and in practice they will become complying contributors. Another benefit is the reduction of the amount of consumer complaints, reflecting in a better image before the population;

• From the building company’s point of view: the main advantages are related to the economy in hydraulic installations designed specifically for the individual system of water metering projects. It is also easier to sell the apartments that have the system, because it provides protection for the economic interests of consumers.

Regarding environmental aspects, it can be said that sustainability by reducing consumption and water waste is viewed as a way to preserve water resources and its sustainable use, due to the fact that the set of human activities are crucial to avoid scarcity of these resources. It is observed that the national water use conservation programs, which started in the early 90’s, are sources of Vol. 19 [2014], Bund. I 2075 sustainable criteria as well as cost and water waste reduction. The performance of these programs is limited basically to three levels: Water Basin conservation, Public Water Supply and Sanitation Systems conservation and Building Systems conservation. They are aimed to minimize systems losses concerning the portion of unconsumed water, i.e, the physical losses, and also non-physical losses, those corresponding to consumed and unregistered water.

Yamada (2001) showed that individualized or sectored metering in buildings is framed as an indirect intervention action in water saving methodologies both for users and condominium. He adds that other options are actions of direct intervention on the building hydraulic system which aim to reduce and control water waste through the performance and maintenance of damaged and inefficient hydraulic projects.

Finally referring to economic aspects, the use of economic nature incentives and penalties contributes to behavior sustainability of all agents in this process. The incentives can be promoted through subsidies or tax exemptions for components and appropriate systems purchase that provide water saving and fare reduction. Some examples of recommendations to develop are, among others, the inhabitant awareness regarding the importance of water consumption rationalizing, to conceive sanitary systems that minimize water consumption and promote technologies that enable water storage.

The penalties can be implemented with the elevation of water rates, being the rate payment progressive according to the consumption range, i.e, the water charge will increase proportionally to the increase in water consumption.

CASE STUDY

Methodology

For the research execution, the following steps were established:

• Selection and characterization of a 22 house condominium, located in the city of Gravatá-PE, which uses the individual water metering system;

• Visit to the condominium and data survey about water consumption in the 22 houses between January and November 2012;

• Statistical data analysis and comparison of individual water consumption recorded monthly with the totals provided by COMPESA;

• Discussion on the benefits of individual water metering systems from a sustainable point of view, focusing on social and economic aspects.

Characterization of the Studied Area

The city of Gravatá is located in the semiarid rural Agreste area Mesoregio, in the Valley of Pernambuco State Microregion, limited at the north by the city of , at south by the cities of Barra de Guabiraba, Courtês and , at the east by and Chã Grande, and at west by and Sairé (CPRM, 2005). The approximate distance to the city of Recife Vol. 19 [2014], Bund. I 2076 is 80km. It consists of several condominiums occupied mainly during the June festivals, Easter and school holidays.

From the 17903 permanent private households, 13917 (77.7%) are supplied by public water network, 1156 (6.5%) are attended by wells or natural sources and 2830 (15.8%) by other forms of supply, such as water trucks. In 2005, the city of Gravatá was inserted in the domains of Ipojuca and Capibaribe water basins (Cprm, 2005). However, since 2013 it can also rely on the Amaraji water duct, which will expand the water supply capacity in the city by improving the flow in the households. A total of 1 million reais was invested in equipment and services in the Gravatá Water Treatment Plant, located in the Cruzeiro neighborhood, thus bringing more benefits to the resident population (CITY HALL OF GRAVATÁ, 2013).

In recent years, the city of Gravatá water supply has been rationed, and the population receives water for about two days a week (CITY HALL OF GRAVATÁ, 2013). However, during the rainy season in 2013, the Amora Grande and dams, which supply the city, received good water volumes which contributed to the municipal water supply system better reliability.

The adopted area in the study is a residential condominium, located in the Henry Gibson road, N/N, Santana land plot, Gravatá - PE, named Privê Grenoble. It is composed of 22 houses and a common area with a pool, football pitch and games room. Each house has an individual water meter, whose monthly reading is used to calculate the water bill of each unit. However, monthly bills issued by COMPESA correspond to the total consumption of the 22 households, obtained by reading a single main meter located at the entrance of the condominium.

Water consumption data from Privê Grenoble were used in this work. It is the condominium manager responsibility to control monthly readings of each house and calculation of their individual bills. This fact is due to the information provided by COMPESA that, because the water meters are positioned at the back of the houses and not in the front, would make the realization of individual readings unviable. Thus, even with the provision of a single water bill by the concessionaire, the condominium opted to internally adjust all necessary individualization processes, pointing out the importance of user awareness about the efficiency of this system as to social justice. Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4 indicate the features regarding Privê Grenoble condominium.

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Figure 1: Condominium Grenoble, Gravatá/PE

Figure 2: Common areas - pools

Figure 3: Individual house meter – house 13 Vol. 19 [2014], Bund. I 2078

Figure 4: Main water meter – entrance

The worksheets of individual consumption (visits to the condominium) and the monthly bills (total amounts issued by COMPESA) were obtained, related to the period between January and November 2012. Based on the data collection, a comparative analysis and discussion about the benefits of individual metering of the water system as an incentive to sustainability were developed focusing on social and economic aspects.

Results and Discussion

The analysis results, based on the data of individual water consumption in the condominium, reinforce the efficiency of the individual metering system as an incentive to sustainability in urban areas. In this case, the discussion of results was based primarily on social and economic aspects relevant to implementing the system.

In terms of social justice, the proportional consumption payment is identified. Table 1 shows the behavior of Total, Average, Maximum and Minimum consumption during the first 11 months of the year 2012 as well as the respective values of water bills equivalent to each consumer, based on the pricing structure of COMPESA in 2013.

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Table 1: Consumption variation (m3) and equivalent values

Average Highest Lowest Total Month Consumption/Equivalent Consumption/ Consumption/ Consumption Value Equivalent Value Equivalent Value

jan/12 253 11.50 R$ 32.35 22.65 R$ 69.28 0 R$ 0.00 feb/12 207 9.41 R$ 27.59 26.61 R$ 84.21 0 R$ 0.00 mar/12 299 13.59 R$ 38.97 16.41 R$ 47.91 0 R$ 0.00 apr/12 230 10.45 R$ 29.02 12.15 R$ 34.41 0 R$ 0.00 may/12 184 8.36 R$ 27.59 9.92 R$ 27.59 0 R$ 0.00 jun/12 184 8.36 R$ 27.59 12.49 R$ 35.48 0 R$ 0.00 jul/12 115 5.23 R$ 27.59 15.05 R$ 43.60 0 R$ 0.00 aug/12 120 5.45 R$ 27.59 11.2 R$ 31.39 0 R$ 0.00 sep/12 161 7.32 R$ 27.59 12.18 R$ 19.09 1.9 R$ 27.59 oct/12 230 10.45 R$ 29.02 46.92 R$ 184.64 1.25 R$ 27.59 nov/12 276 12.55 R$ 35.67 49.47 R$ 197.84 0 R$ 0.00 Average 9.33 R$ 30.05 21.37 R$ 70.49 0.29 R$ 5.02

From Table 1, it is possible to perceive the variation in the pattern of consumption in all 22 houses. This variation is mainly due to the presence of different types of users in the condominium, being part of them in permanent residence and others as a second residence. It is verified that the maximum monthly volume consumed by some proprietors is more than double the average consumption recorded, as in the months of February and June 2012, which reinforces the importance of enabling the control of demand per housing unit. It is also possible to identify users with minimum consumption patterns that are not benefited by the current charging structure, which is a fixed monthly amount of R$ 27.59 for any volume consumed up to the range of 10 m³/month.

It is observed, however, that if the charge of the condominium fee was to consider an equitable apportionment of a single water bill throughout the average consumption, the users that have maximum monthly consumption would be benefited, and would pay a value of approximately 42.63% less than they should, as it can be seen in Table 2.

Table 2: Comparison of charging methods for a user with a maximum consumption pattern User A: Pattern of Billing 2- Proportional to Billing 1- Through equal Maximum Consumption consumption: Individual apportionment: Global metering (m³) metering

21.37 m³ R$ 30.05 R$ 70.49

Value/Percentage that would not be paid by User A in case Billing Value Percentage 1 type was adopted: R$ 40.44 42.63%

It is proven therefore that measuring the actual volume used by a particular user and ensuring that he will effectively pay for what was consumed, eliminates the possibility that some owners pay for the consumption of others. This fact points out the importance of individual water metering systems from the social point of view, taking into account that the adoption of this Vol. 19 [2014], Bund. I 2080 system provides a more equitable distribution of costs among the proprietors, especially in cases where there is a large variation between the consumption volume of users. Figure 5 reflects the data in Table 1 and it allows the visualization of different consumption patterns present in the condominium studied.

Figure 5: Different patterns of consumption from users

FINAL CONSIDERATIONS

As stated in the developed work, it was noticeable that individual water metering is effective and an important tool to ensure water resources control and management, contributing to a greater social awareness and social justice among users.

Through the case study, it was verified that the implementation of individualized water metering systems is of the utmost importance to prevent proprietors with environmentally responsible behavior from paying for other’s misuse. This fact becomes even more important given the characteristics of the condominium studied, in which part of the houses have seasonal occupation and some users do not even use water in certain months of the year.

It is hoped that this work sensitizes the different social agents about the individual water metering system and the results obtained from its adoption in urban environments, in order to promote water supply and social interactions sustainability and contribute to the sustainable development process. In this perspective it can be concluded that individualized metering of water consumption consists in a proactive action in the adoption of sustainable behaviors, responsible for promoting the rational use of water in urban areas through the proportional consumption charge of each user.

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2007. 222p. 3. CPRM - SERVIÇO GEOLÓGICO DO BRASIL. “Projeto cadastro de fontes de abastecimento por água subterrânea”. Diagnóstico do município de Gravatá, estado de Pernambuco. CPRM/PRODEEM, 2005. Available in: 4. http://www.cprm.gov.br/rehi/atlas/pernambuco/relatorios/GRAV068.pdf 5. Department for Environment, Food and Ruaral Affairs (1998) “Sustainable Development: Opprtunities for Change”, Consultation Paper on a Revised UK Strategy. 6. FERREIRA, V. (Coord.) (2008) “Inovação na Construção Sustentável,” CINCOS’08 (Congresso de Inovação na Construção Sustentável), CentroHabitat, Curia. 7. HAUGHTON, G.; COUNSELL, D. (2004) “Regions, spatial strategies and sustainable development”, Routledge, London. 8. MALAFAYA BAPTISTA, F. (2007) “O conteúdo ambiental dos instrumentos locais de planeamento do território, uma visão comparativa no quadro europeu,” Tese de Doutoramento em Engenharia Civil, Faculdade de Engenharia da Universidade do Porto. 9. MATEUS, R. E BRAGANÇA, L. (2006) “Tecnologias Construtivas para a Sustentabilidade da Construção,” Edições Ecopy, Porto. 10. OLIVEIRA, E. F. C. C.; LIBÂNIO, P. A. C. A “Hidrometração Individualizada em Condomínios no Brasil - Implantação, Avanço e Resultados”. In: Anais do 17º SIMPÓSIO BRASILEIRO DE RECURSOS HÍDRICOS, São Paulo- SP, 2007. 11. TIRONE L., NUNES K. (2007) “Construção sustentável,” Sinalivro, Lisboa, ISBN 978-989-20-0883-7. 12. TOMAZ, Plínio. “Conservação da água”. São Paulo: Digihouse Editoração Eletrônica, 1999. 294p. 13. YAMADA, E. S.; PRADO, R. T.; IOSHIMOTO, E. “Os impactos do sistema individualizado de medição de água”. Boletim Técnico da Escola Politécnica da USP, São Paulo, Departamento de Engenharia de Construção Civil da EPUSP, BT/PCC/297, 2001. 14. YAMADA, Eduardo Seiji. “Os impactos da medição individualizada de água em edifícios residenciais multifamiliares”. Dissertação (Mestrado em Engenharia Civil)- Escola Politécnica, Universidade de São Paulo- SP, 2001.

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