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Probability distributions for showering and bathing water-use behavior for various U.S. subpopulations
Charles R Wilkes1, Andrea D Mason, Stephen C Hern
1Wilkes Technologies, Inc., Bethesda, MD 20814, USA. c.wilkes@wilkestech.com
Summary
Understanding bathroom water use is key to estimating exposure to water-borne contaminants. Age and education influence shower and bath habits, impacting exposure assessments for different populations.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Exposure Science
- Water Quality
Background:
- Bathroom water use significantly contributes to personal exposure to water-borne contaminants within homes.
- Accurate exposure assessments for specific populations require understanding demographic influences on water-use behavior.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze and compare shower and bath frequencies and durations across various demographic groups.
- To identify demographic factors influencing water-use behavior in bathrooms.
- To provide recommended parameters for modeling water-use behavior in exposure assessments.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of the National Human Activities Pattern Survey (NHAPS) database.
- Analysis of the Residential End Uses of Water Study (REUWS) database.
- Review of existing literature on water-use patterns.
Main Results:
- Age and education level were significant factors influencing shower and bath frequency and duration.
- NHAPS data showed reasonable agreement with previous studies for showering/bathing frequency but longer durations.
- REUWS data indicated slightly lower showering frequency than NHAPS but consistent shower durations with other studies.
Conclusions:
- NHAPS data is more reliable for shower/bath frequency, while REUWS data is more reliable for duration.
- Recommended shower and bath-use behavior parameters can improve demographic-specific exposure assessments.
- Understanding water-use behavior is crucial for realistic exposure estimates of water-borne contaminants.