Characteristics of Australian urban residential water users: implications for water demand management and whole of the system water accounting framework

Water Policy ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 413-426 ◽  
Author(s):  
Greg Barrett ◽  
Margaret Wallace
Keyword(s):  
Water Use ◽  
Demand Management ◽  
Household Size ◽  
Australian Bureau ◽  
Capital City ◽  
Domestic Water ◽  
Water Users ◽  
Economies Of Size ◽  
Per Capita ◽  
Australian Bureau Of Statistics

Data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, Household Expenditure Survey for 1998/99, are used to investigate the characteristics of households with a high per capita water use in Canberra, Australia's capital city. The results indicate that higher per capita water use is a function of household size (with large households achieving economies of size by sharing water consuming resources) and household income (with wealthy individuals using more water per capita). Linking these findings to Australian Bureau of Statistics projections of shrinking household size, the authors conclude that the resultant decline in household efficiency will drive up the demand for water, unless offset by demand management policies that focus not just on consumer behaviour (e.g. water restrictions) but also on the water efficiency of housing and domestic water-using appliances.

scholarly journals Using smart meters to identify social and technological impacts on residential water consumption

2011 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 527-533 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cara Beal ◽  
Rodney A. Stewart ◽  
Anneliese Spinks ◽  
Kelly Fielding
Keyword(s):  
Water Use ◽  
Community Education ◽  
Demand Management ◽  
High Water ◽  
Management Policy ◽  
Smart Meters ◽  
Water Users ◽  
Residential Water Consumption ◽  
End Use ◽  
Demographic Surveys

Studies have shown that householders' perceptions of their water use are often not well matched with their actual water use. There has been less research, however, investigating whether this bias is related to specific types of end use and/or specific types of socio-demographic and socio-demographic household profiles. A high resolution smart metering study producing a detailed end use event registry as well as psycho-social and socio-demographic surveys, stock inventory audits and self-reported water diaries was completed for 250 households located in South-east Queensland, Australia. The study examined the contributions of end uses to total water use for each group identified as ‘low’, ‘medium’ or ‘high’ water users. Analyses were conducted to examine the socio-demographic variables such as income, percentage of water efficient stock, family size and composition, that characterise each self-identified water usage group. The paper concludes with a discussion of the general characteristics of groups that overestimate and underestimate their water use and how this knowledge can be used to inform demand management policy such as targeted community education programmes.

scholarly journals Analysis and Comprehensive Evaluation of Water Use Efficiency in China

Water ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. 2620 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wenge Zhang ◽  
Xianzeng Du ◽  
Anqi Huang ◽  
Huijuan Yin
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Water Use Efficiency ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Water Consumption ◽  
Value Added ◽  
Domestic Water ◽  
Projection Direction ◽  
Domestic Water Consumption ◽  
Use Efficiency ◽  
Per Capita

Proper water use requires its monitoring and evaluation. An indexes system of overall water use efficiency is constructed here that covers water consumption per 10,000 yuan GDP, the coefficient of effective utilization of irrigation water, the water consumption per 10,000 yuan of industrial value added, domestic water consumption per capita of residents, and the proportion of water function zone in key rivers and lakes complying with water-quality standards and is applied to 31 provinces in China. Efficiency is first evaluated by a projection pursuit cluster model. Multidimensional efficiency data are transformed into a low-dimensional subspace, and the accelerating genetic algorithm then optimizes the projection direction, which determines the overall efficiency index. The index reveals great variety in regional water use, with Tianjin, Beijing, Hebei, and Shandong showing highest efficiency. Shanxi, Liaoning, Shanghai, Zhejiang, Henan, Shanxi, and Gansu also use water with high efficiency. Medium efficiency occurs in Inner Mongolia, Jilin, Heilongjiang, Jiangsu, Hainan, Qinghai, Ningxia, and Low efficiency is found for Anhui, Fujian, Jiangxi, Hubei, Hunan, Guangdong, Guangxi, Chongqing, Sichuan, Guizhou, Yunnan, and Xinjiang. Tibet is the least efficient. The optimal projection direction is a* = (0.3533, 0.7014, 0.4538, 0.3315, 0.1217), and the degree of influence of agricultural irrigation efficiency, water consumption per industrial profit, water used per gross domestic product (GDP), domestic water consumption per capita of residents, and environmental water quality on the result has decreased in turn. This may aid decision making to improve overall water use efficiency across China.

scholarly journals The Water Footprint of Kathmandu Metropolitan City

2015 ◽  
Vol 28 ◽  
pp. 73-80
Author(s):  
Mohan Bikram Shrestha ◽  
Udhab Raj Khadka
Keyword(s):  
Water Use ◽  
Water Footprint ◽  
Industrial Water ◽  
Total Water ◽  
Domestic Water ◽  
Rapid Urbanization ◽  
Water Project ◽  
Metropolitan City ◽  
Industrial Water Use ◽  
Per Capita

The water footprint is consumption-based indicator of water use. Water footprint is defined as the total volume of both indirect and the direct freshwater used for producing goods and services consumed by individuals or inhabitants of community. There are many studies regarding the direct water use but studies incorporating both direct and indirect water use is deficient. This study tries to estimate total volume of water based on the consumption pattern of different commodities by individuals of Kathmandu Metropolitan city using extended water footprint calculator. The average water footprint of individuals appears to be 1145.52 m3/yr. The indirect and direct water footprint appears to be 1070.82 Mm3/yr and 46.59 Mm3/yr respectively which cumulatively give the total water footprint of Kathmandu Metropolitan City of 1117.40 Mm3/yr. This volume is equal to 2.27 times the annual flow the River Bagmati. The indirect water footprint includes food water footprint of 1055.60 Mm3/yr or 2.14 times the annual flow and industrial water use of 15.22 Mm3/yr or 0.03 times the annual flow while the direct water footprint includes domestic water use of 46.59 Mm3/yr or 0.09 times the annual flow. In food water footprint, cereals consumption shared the highest contribution of 34.82% followed by meat consumption with share of 32.62% in total water footprint. Per capita per day water use of inhabitants appears to be 3138 liters which includes water use in food items of 2965 liters, industrial water use of 43 liters and domestic water use of 131 liters. The per capita per day domestic water use is 90 liters more than supplement of 41 liters by the water operator of Kathmandu Valley. Per capita per day domestic water use is already 5 liters more than expected improvement in water supplement of 126 liters per capita per day in 2025 after accomplishment of Melamchi water project. And, it is expected to increase further observing the rapid urbanization of Kathmandu Metropolitan City. The study showed water footprint of individuals is directly related to food consumption behavior, life style and services used therefore it is necessary to initiate water offsetting measures at individual level and water operator to find environmentally sustainable alternatives along with ongoing water project to fulfill demand. J. Nat. Hist. Mus. Vol. 28, 2014: 73-80

scholarly journals Farmer-Led Irrigation and Its Impacts on Smallholder Farmers’ Crop Income: Evidence from Southern Tanzania

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (5) ◽  
pp. 1512
Author(s):  
Maurice Osewe ◽  
Aijun Liu ◽  
Tim Njagi
Keyword(s):  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Household Head ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Household Welfare ◽  
Domestic Water ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Water Users ◽  
Per Capita ◽  
The Government ◽  
Crop Income

Irrigation projects in sub-Saharan Africa are mostly unsustainable because of lack of maintenance by their users or government planners. By contrast, evidence shows that the smallholder farmers are developing and expanding the irrigated land, using their initiatives. Farmer-led irrigation, a revolutionary agricultural intensification approach, is already in progress with the magnitude to significantly transform the living standards of smallholder farmers. However, a rigorous assessment of its impact on household welfare to ascertain this is lacking. This paper bridges this gap by assessing factors influencing the adoption of this particular approach as well as its effects on the farmers’ per capita net crop income. Our data set consists of 608 smallholder farmers in Southern Tanzania and used propensity score matching to estimate the effects of adoption on the per capita net crop income. Our results indicate that the uptake of farmer-led irrigation practices is influenced by drought experience, water user group membership, farmer organization membership, and government extension, as well as the sex of the household head. Further, there was a positive and significant effect on the adopters’ per capita net crop income, thus encouraging the need to promote farmer-led irrigation as a complement to externally promoted innovations in achieving sustainable food security. This study, therefore, recommends that the government should support the farmers’ initiative by improving roads, removing market barriers, and helping farmers who have not yet taken up the initiative. Also, the government should enact regulations to make sure farmer-led irrigation initiatives do not harm the eco-environment such as protecting domestic water users. Finally, the government should leverage microservices to the farmers such as promoting affordable and appropriate credit facilities. It is necessary to continue pursuing this vein of research to gain information regarding the definite impact of the farmer-led irrigation on household welfare.

Mean water footprint of national consumption per capita (1996-2005)

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chloé Meyer
Keyword(s):  
Water Use ◽  
Industrial Production ◽  
Agricultural Production ◽  
Water Footprint ◽  
Domestic Water ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Per Capita ◽  
Annual Water ◽  
Table Data ◽  
National Consumption

This layer presents estimations of the mean annual water footprint of national consumption per capita for the period 1996-2005. The water footprint is a measure of human’s appropriation of freshwater resources; it has three components: green, blue and grey. Estimations are given in cubic meter per capita per year. In the table, data are also available disaggregated per sectors: agricultural production, industrial production and domestic water use. A detailed description of the methodology and results can be found in the main report available here: http://temp.waterfootprint.org/Reports/Report50-NationalWaterFootprints-Vol1.pdf . For more information, visit the Water Footprint Network website: http://temp.waterfootprint.org/?page=files/WaterStat Cost Use/Reuse

scholarly journals Individual Water-Saving Response Based on Complex Adaptive System Theory: Case Study of Beijing City, China

Water ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 1478
Author(s):  
Hanqing Liu ◽  
Yong Zhao ◽  
Haihong Li ◽  
Lizhen Wang ◽  
Qingming Wang
Keyword(s):  
Water Use ◽  
Water Demand ◽  
Adaptive System ◽  
Complex Adaptive System ◽  
Demand Management ◽  
Water Saving ◽  
Domestic Water ◽  
Complex Adaptive ◽  
Saving Behavior ◽  
External Stimuli

It is of significance to examine the factors impacting individual water-saving behavior and their mechanism of action for water demand management, especially for domestic water demand management. To provide a solution to the issues of individual water-saving behavior research with unclear influence mechanisms and subjective modeling decisions, this study provides a novel idea of combining social survey and model study for research on domestic water conservation, introduces complex adaptive system theory to describe the mechanism of action between individuals as well as between individuals and external stimuli, and proposes a general framework for the model establishment and analysis of individual water-saving response research under external stimuli. This study uses Beijing as an empirical city. Based on the analysis results of the survey on Beijing residents’ domestic water use combined with the problems in Beijing’s domestic water-saving efforts, this study constructs water-saving regulation scenarios and corresponding individual water-saving response rules; systematically simulates the change process of individual water use considering the aspects of water price formulation, water use information, and water-saving publicity and education; quantitatively analyzes the influence of these three types of external stimuli on individual water saving; proposes individual water-saving promotion measures; and suggests the three aspects of water price formulation, water use information feedback, water-saving publicity and education.

scholarly journals Water Metering Pilot Project: A Case Study of Water Demand Management in the Sultanate of Oman

2006 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
pp. 71
Author(s):  
Zaher Khalid Al Suleimani ◽  
Bushra Khalfan Al Wohaibi
Keyword(s):  
Water Resources ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Water Demand ◽  
Groundwater Resources ◽  
Demand Management ◽  
Pilot Project ◽  
Sultanate Of Oman ◽  
Domestic Water ◽  
Water Demand Management ◽  
Water Metering

The Sultanate of Oman is experiencing increased pressure on its groundwater resources. This is mainly due to agricultural enterprises, which consume about 92 % of national water resources, as well as an upsurge in industrial, commercial and domestic water use. The ever-growing population, diversification of economic activities and the ensuing rise in national prosperity have meant an increasing demand for water. This has resulted in a marked depletion of groundwater supplies, intrusion of seawater, and deterioration of ground water quality in the case of the Al Batinah region. A scientific and effective water demand management strategy for the Sultanate is therefore needed. Accordingly, the Ministry of Regional Municipalities, Environment and Water Resources (MRMEWR) have conducted several studies related to water demand management in the agricultural, industrial and domestic sectors. One of these studies was the Water Metering Pilot Project (WMPP), initiated in 1994 with the objective of evaluating patterns of water use on a number of randomly selected farms in the southern Al-Batinah. The results obtained over a period of seven years confirm that water metering alone does not help reduce the quantity pumped. These findings have encouraged other advanced studies on water demand management in industrial, commercial, domestic and agriculture sectors in different areas of the Sultanate. 

Issues of trust, fairness and efficacy: a qualitative study of information provision for newly metered households in England

2009 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 311-319 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Knamiller ◽  
L. Sharp
Keyword(s):  
Water Use ◽  
Demand Management ◽  
Information Provision ◽  
Qualitative Information ◽  
Domestic Water ◽  
Widespread Agreement ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Water Supply Company ◽  
Water Metering

There is widespread agreement among agencies governing UK water management that more extensive domestic water metering combined with additional measures will deliver a more efficient domestic water usage. This paper argues that qualitative research is needed to select and hone additional measures. According to theory, cooperation to reduce water use is more likely if people: a) believe in the necessity to reduce use; b) feel costs are fairly shared; and c) believe their actions can affect the situation. The case study of Lydd, Kent, is presented. Lydd is the first location in which compulsory water metering has been imposed in the UK. Qualitative information was collected to inform the communication strategies being implemented by the water supply company. The investigation found that none of the three factors predicted by theory were completely present. The paper concludes by providing some recommendations for improving the water company's communications strategy for encouraging a reduction in domestic water use. The key role of qualitative information in assisting in the targeting and design of water demand management programmes is highlighted.

Application of Gini, Theil and concentration indices for assessing water use inequality

2017 ◽  
Vol 44 (10) ◽  
pp. 1335-1347 ◽  
Author(s):  
Krishna Malakar ◽  
Trupti Mishra
Keyword(s):  
Water Use ◽  
National Income ◽  
Theil Index ◽  
Water Usage ◽  
Domestic Water ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Gini Coefficients ◽  
Management And Development ◽  
Per Capita ◽  
Concentration Indices

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to propose the application of Gini, Theil and concentration indices for measuring inequality in water usage. Design/methodology/approach Gini coefficients and Theil indices have been used to estimate the overall inequality in domestic water use in a sample of 30 countries around the world. Along with Theil’s L (unweighted) index, liters per capita per day and gross national income weighted Theil index have also been estimated. Theil indices have been further disintegrated into within- and between-group inequalities. Concentration curve is also constructed to study the inequality in water use in accordance to the countries’ economic standing. Findings Domestic water use is high among the well-off countries considered in the study. Also, the Theil indices indicate that between group inequality contributes more to the overall inequality. It is observed that Theil indices, which consider only per capita water usage and can be decomposed, give a better insight into the existing inequality. Practical implications Different approaches were used to quantify inequality. The choice of index depends on the context of the study. The proposed approaches can contribute to planning of sustainable water management and development policies. Originality/value There is a dearth of metrics for quantifying inequality in water access or use. The study presents the application of indices, widely used in quantifying inequality in access to other resources such as income and energy, in assessing water inequality.

scholarly journals A Survey of Household Water Use and Groundwater Quality Index Assessment in a Rural Community of Cambodia

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (18) ◽  
pp. 10071
Author(s):  
Saret Bun ◽  
Sreymao Sek ◽  
Chantha Oeurng ◽  
Manabu Fujii ◽  
Phaly Ham ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Groundwater Quality ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Rural Community ◽  
Water Consumption ◽  
Quality Index ◽  
Clean Water ◽  
Domestic Water ◽  
Household Water ◽  
Per Capita ◽  
Groundwater Wells

To propose an efficient system for addressing water scarcity in a rural area through groundwater use, the information on water consumption and interpretation of groundwater quality are essential for estimating the optimal preparation of the comprehensive water system. Hence, this study aimed to estimate the current household domestic water consumption and groundwater quality index of currently accessed wells in a small rural community of Preyveng province, Cambodia as a practical and beneficial as well as a model for the water resource sector in rural areas. The questionnaire survey was designed as the main instrument for collecting the household water use as face-to-face interviews. The result showed that the average daily water consumption in the Preal commune is about 71 L per capita, which is almost two times lower than the minimum water quantity recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO), 150 L/day per capita. Moreover, 100% of the households in this commune heavily rely on groundwater wells for domestic water use and more than 50% confirmed that they used raw groundwater as drinking water without a proposer treatment system. Approximately 70% of the people in Preal wishes to have a clean water supply and more than 80% of the household had a positive willingness to pay for clean water supply. In terms of groundwater quality in the Preal commune, it is mainly contaminated by iron, arsenic, fluoride, and manganese, which are mainly associated with human health effects from daily consumption. About 75% of groundwater wells are presented in poor conditions and were unsuitable for drinking purposes. Lastly, the suitable water treatment and supply should be considered in order to reduce the effects on people’s health as well as to improve living conditions.

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