An optimal sampling procedure for the collection of residential water use data

Sampling theory is used to design an optimal sample of individual residential water users for the United States. The purpose of designing this optimal stratified random sample is to facilitate an efficient nationwide collection of residential water use data which can be analyzed statistically to forecast water use and to determine water system design criteria. This sample is designed in two steps; we select (1) the specific type and number of customers to be sampled at each location and (2) the specific locations to be sampled.