Domestic water consumption: a field study in Harbin, China

The research city Harbin, one of the cities suffering from water shortage, is located in north-eastern. In the absence of data on domestic water consumption, a field study was carried out in order to obtain information on domestic water using behaviour, water appliance characteristics and ownership; the domestic water use pattern was then determined on the basis of the study results. This study indicated that there was domestic water-saving potential in the research city and promotion of water efficient appliances would have a positive impact on water-saving for both the home and the municipal water supply system.