Abstract:
The COVID-19 pandemic which has frightening effects on the health systems all around the world has forced the governments to take strict measurements to fight the horrible results of the virus. Both this disease and restrictive measures have caused people to change their consumption habits. In this study, the changes in the amount of water consumption of households, workplaces, and public institutions pre- and post-pandemic have been examined. A socially and economically essential city of Turkey was chosen as the study area. Temperature changes, another parameter that may affect water consumption, were also evaluated. In addition, the results of May 2021, when was declared a 17-day full lockdown, have been also examined comparatively. The results showed that household water consumption increased markedly 3 months after the first case was announced in Turkey, although there was no appreciable change in temperature. After the implementation of the pandemic measures, the amount of workplace water usage reduced in April and in May 2020. Additionally, the amount of public water consumption was much less in 2020 than in 2019. In the full lockdown month, contrary to the substantial drop in public institutions, an increase was observed in household and workplace water use.
