Overview
ISO/TS 24593:2026, titled “Establishment of a master plan for water supply - Evaluation of water demand,” is a technical specification published by ISO. This document provides a comprehensive methodology for evaluating water demand as a foundational step in developing a master plan for water supply systems. It offers general principles and practical guidance for considering relevant data from both current and future water systems, factoring in effects such as climate change, changing social behavior, urbanization, and industrial growth. The standard is designed to help organizations ensure resilient, sustainable, and optimized water supply infrastructure.
Key Topics
- Water System Description: Guidance on mapping out existing water supply networks, including main resources, supply areas, and connection infrastructure.
- Water Balance Analysis: Methodologies for calculating the balance between water resources and demand, considering both mean and peak scenarios for current and projected conditions.
- Demand Evaluation: Strategies for analyzing current water demand, forecasting future consumption based on demographic, climatic, and industrial factors, and establishing critical indicators like peak factors and climate change impacts.
- Water Loss Assessment: Techniques for identifying and quantifying water loss within the supply system, highlighting opportunities for conservation and efficiency improvement.
- Assessment of Water Resources: Approaches for determining resource availability from natural, technical, and legal perspectives, including planning for future variability and quality impacts.
- Emergency Supply Planning: Procedures for evaluating system resilience in emergency scenarios, such as loss of major resources or supply disruptions, and calculating auxiliary supply ratios.
- Digitalization of Infrastructure: Recommendations for implementing geoinformatics systems (GIS) to manage infrastructure data, enable hydraulic modeling, and support continuous updates.
- Optimization Recommendations: Preventive and adjustment measures to enhance system reliability, such as expanding treatment and storage capacities, improving energy efficiency, and integrating climate adaptation actions.
Applications
ISO/TS 24593:2026 is essential for:
- Water Utilities and Municipalities: Planning, designing, and optimizing long-term water supply systems with evidence-based demand projections.
- Civil Engineers and Urban Planners: Developing sustainable infrastructure by integrating detailed water balance analysis and resilience planning into regional master plans.
- Industrial and Agricultural Water Users: Forecasting sector-specific water needs and integrating them into broader municipal or regional supply schemes.
- Consultants and Auditors: Assessing compliance with international best practices for water demand evaluation and infrastructure optimization.
- Government Agencies: Developing policies and regulations for effective water resource management, considering the dynamic impacts of climate change and urbanization.
- Emergency and Risk Managers: Preparing robust contingency plans to maintain supply during various disruption scenarios.
Related Standards
When applying ISO/TS 24593:2026, it is important to consider these related ISO standards for a comprehensive approach:
- ISO 24513: Service activities relating to drinking water supply, wastewater and stormwater systems - Vocabulary.
- ISO 24528: Service activities relating to drinking water supply, wastewater and stormwater systems - Guideline for a water loss investigation of drinking water distribution networks.
- ISO 24516-1: Guidelines for the management of assets of water supply and wastewater systems - Part 1: Drinking water distribution networks.
Practical Value
By providing a structured methodology for evaluating water demand and integrating key factors such as climate change, ISO/TS 24593:2026 enables stakeholders to:
- More accurately assess current and future water needs.
- Build more resilient, adaptive, and cost-effective water supply systems.
- Reduce water loss and optimize investments in infrastructure.
- Support sustainable urban, industrial, and agricultural development.
- Improve emergency preparedness and digital infrastructure management.
Adopting ISO/TS 24593:2026 ensures alignment with internationally recognized standards for water supply planning, facilitating better resource stewardship and long-term community well-being.