An evaluation of the main factors affecting future municipal water demand forecasting in Kuwait

الملخص EN

The scarcity of water is considered the most challenging problem that is facing the countries in the arid regions, in which Kuwait is a typical type of these countries.

The future estimation of municipal water demand in such a country is a critical factor for water resources planning and development.

This water demand forecasting is an essential for the determining of the type, size, location and timing of the required improvements and developments of water resources system.

In this research the distinct features of main factors affecting Kuwait municipal water demand are discussed and analyzed thoroughly to find an appropriator value representing the per capita water demand in the future , these features include climate , economical , sociological and technological conditions.

The time series statistical data for the last years published by the ministry of electricity and water that cover many aspects of water (ex., production, consumption, projects) has been utilized and extended to represent four different municipal water demand alternatives for comparisons and analysis.

These alternatives based on the assumed prevailing future conditions, affecting the municipal water demand in order to estimate the future municipal demands that the state of Kuwait water security plan must satisfied.

The analysis of the proposed alternatives showed that the country will face severe municipal water shortenings unless dual reduction and control of both the population growth and the per capita water demand rates are effectively applied.