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Modeling temporal demand patterns

✏️Course in Development

Just a heads-up—this section is still a work in progress! I’ll be revising and expanding it soon to make sure it’s as useful as possible. Curious about what’s already done or currently in the works? Check the changelog for updates.

Water demand isn't a flat, constant value; it's incredibly dynamic, varying significantly throughout the day, across different days of the week, and even from season to season. Your hydraulic model needs to capture these temporal variations to produce realistic simulations, especially for operational analyses or extended period simulations (EPS). This section explains how to develop and incorporate these crucial demand patterns.

Our primary focus will be on diurnal patterns — the typical 24-hour fluctuation in water use. We’ll look at how these patterns differ for various customer categories (e.g., residential demand usually peaks in the morning and evening, while industrial demand might be more constant during working hours) and how you can develop representative curves based on historical data, smart meter readings, or industry guidelines.

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