Water Conservation In Urban Households

This book provides an overview of water conservation techniques that can be used in urban households. It discusses the psychological factors that influence water conservation behaviour, the socio-economic factors that influence water conservation behaviour, the environmental factors that influence water conservation behaviour, the role of policies in achieving water conservation goals, and the role of water saving devices in providing technological solutions to water conservation.

On the one hand, population and economic growth are increasing the demand for water but on the other, environmental consequences of climate change, pollution and over extraction of groundwater are decreasing the world s supply of fresh water. This makes the availability of water for human use one of the greatest global concerns of this century. Neither levelling growth nor technological innovation can stretch the existing supplies significantly; hence, it is imperative that demand side management techniques such as the use of water efficient fixtures in urban households, appropriate water tariff structure and regulatory policies are used as tools for water conservation. Conservation of water resources is one of the important aspects of ensuring sustainable development of cities and should incorporate environmental, social and economic dimensions. This book highlights the importance of using water efficiently in urban households, in both developed and developing cities. Specifically, the book focuses on: the determinants of water conservation behaviour, including psychological factors such as values, beliefs and attitudes, socio-economic factors such as income, water pricing and policies, environmental factors such as seasonal variations and demographic factors such as household size and age; the role of policies such as mandatory water restrictions, labelling of water saving devices and promotion of public awareness; the role of water and wastewater tariff structures in achieving the goals of revenue generation, affordability, demand management and equity and the design of conservation oriented rate structures; and the role of water saving devices in providing technological solutions to household water conservation. In relation to the above issues, the book provides several detailed case studies of cities to understand the effectiveness of such demand management tools and the lessons learnt. Overall, the book aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the various price and non-price tools that can be used to manage domestic water consumption.