Utilizing novel data sets and prediction methods to better identify and engage with customers in vulnerable circumstances and encourage sustainable water consumption in the residential sector

无论是家庭的日常用水，还是在抗击Covid-19的过程中加强卫生措施的用水，还是娱乐活动的用水，这场大流行都表明了这一宝贵资源对我们日常生活的重要性。然而，随着越来越多的家庭面临用水负担能力的挑战（新冠疫情加剧了这一挑战），以及全球供水持续面临压力，这一资源不能再被视为理所当然。结合大数据、行为科学和机器学习等新兴概念，该项目旨在开发准确的住宅用水最终用途需求预测模型（在评估客户消费和需求预测方面提供与智能电表类似的功能，智能电表在英国水务行业的应用有限），其具体目标是解决优先挑战，包括：更好地识别和支持弱势客户，更好地了解客户需求，以帮助监控和避免潜在的家庭用水效率问题（如漏水）-优化使用有关消费模式的数据，以真正了解和影响客户行为。-帮助家庭减少用水量，并为实现这一目标提供具体的指导，采取更可持续的行为。该方法是根据英国水务公司的意见专门设计的，并受到包括Ofwat和Ofgem在内的监管机构的既定目标的推动，目的是改善数据的使用，以应对这些关键挑战。如果成功，该项目将为公用事业、监管机构和客户带来巨大利益，并有可能解决公认的可持续性和社会挑战，这将对每个英国家庭产生积极影响。该解决方案还可以应用于更广泛的公用事业市场，包括能源市场，因为在更广泛的地理区域存在类似的挑战。

Whether it's the day-to-day use of water in the home, the use of water for increased hygiene measures in the fight against Covid-19, or for recreational activities, the pandemic has shown how central this valuable resource is to our everyday lives. It is however a resource that can no longer be taken for granted with an increasing number of households facing water affordability challenges (a challenge compounded by the Covid pandemic) and with continued pressures on water supplies globally.Combining emerging concepts in Big Data, behavioural science and machine learning, this project seeks to develop accurate residential water end-use demand forecasting models (providing similar functionality in assessing customer consumption and demand forecasting as smart meters which has seen limited adoption in the UK water industry) with the specific the aim of addressing priority challenges which include:-Better identifying and supporting vulnerable customers,-Achieving an improved understanding of customer demand to help monitor and avert potential household water-efficiency problems eg leaks,-Optimise the use of data around consumption patterns to truly understand and influence customer behaviour.-Helping households to reduce water consumption and practice more sustainable behaviours with guidance to achieve this, specific to that household.The approach has been specifically designed with input from the UK's Water utility companies and driven by stated objectives from Regulatory bodies including Ofwat and Ofgem for the improved use of data to address these critical challenges.If successful, the project will deliver significant benefit for Utilities, Regulators and customers with the potential address a recognised sustainability and social challenge that could positively impact every UK household. The solution could also be exploited across wider utility markets including energy where similar challenges exist along with wider geographical territories.