The term 'peak demand' refers to which of the following?

• A. Maximum
• B. Average
• C. Minimum
• D. Normal

Answer: (C)

Peak demand is the highest level of water use observed during a defined period. It represents the maximum flow or volume the system must supply when many customers are drawing water at the same time. This is the value engineers design for when sizing pumps, pipes, and storage to prevent shortages or pressure issues. In contrast, average demand is the mean usage over the period, and minimum is the lowest usage observed; normal isn’t a standard metric used for sizing. Peak demand often occurs during morning and evening periods and is measured in units like gallons per minute or liters per second. A peak factor, the ratio of peak demand to average demand, helps quantify how much higher the peak is than the average.