Assessment of the Actual Water Consumption of the Population of Rural Settlements of the Ob-Irtysh Interfluve

Aim. To conduct a quantitative assessment of household and communal water consumption in rural settlements, excluding major industrial and agricultural water consumers, as statistical information is absent in state reporting forms but is necessary for the management of regional water resources. Methodology. The identification of a model settlement was based on an analysis of territorial planning documents from rural areas in the Altai Krai and Novosibirsk Oblast. Typical water users were identified using municipal statistics and the categorization of socio-cultural facilities. Water consumption rates were established according to regulatory documents, sanitary rules, and other sources. The calculation of minimum water requirements, using the proposed methodology, was performed for individual settlements and for rural municipalities within the study region. Results. In an average rural settlement, typical water users include the population engaged in personal subsidiary farming and organizations of socio-cultural significance. According to the proposed norms for daily water consumption, the most water-intensive activity is the irrigation of garden plots, while among socio-cultural facilities, kindergartens are the largest water consumers. The calculated minimum water needs for rural populations, both for individual settlements and for municipalities as a whole, showed that over 80% of annual water consumption is attributed to personal subsidiary farming, 10-15% to personal household needs, and less than 5% to public-business zone facilities. Calculated water consumption exceeds explored reserves of groundwater only in 9 districts of the endorheic basin. Research implications. A methodology for determining the minimum water needs of the population of rural settlements has been proposed.