Influencing attitudes and changing consumers' household water consumption behaviour

2008 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 325-330 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. W. Cary
Keyword(s):  
Water Consumption ◽  
Water Conservation ◽  
Major Element ◽  
Demand Management ◽  
Water Shortage ◽  
Water Delivery ◽  
Water Users ◽  
Household Water ◽  
Behaviour Models ◽  
Changing Attitudes

Programs for demand management have become critical following extended water shortage in Australia. Changing attitudes is a major element of water conservation programs. Information and education are likely to be necessary but not sufficient components of any program for behaviour change. A combination of factors is needed to promote water saving behaviour. Changing the behaviours of less responsive water users requires a better understanding of what shapes water conservation behaviours. Programs and conservation behaviour models need to take account of both ‘internal’ influences, such as attitudes and habits, and ‘external’ influences, such as the water delivery environment, pricing and social norms for water use.

How Trust and Risk Perception Affect Household Water Use

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raymond Yu Wang ◽  
Xiaofeng Liu
Keyword(s):  
Risk Perception ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Water Consumption ◽  
Water Conservation ◽  
Tap Water ◽  
Demand Management ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Social Groups ◽  
Recycled Water ◽  
Household Water

Household water use accounts for an important portion of water consumption. Notably, different households may behave differently regarding how water is used in everyday life. Trust and risk perception are two significant psychological factors that influence water use behavior in households. Since trust and risk perception are malleable and subject to construction, they are useful for developing effective demand management strategies and water conservation policies. The concepts of trust and risk perception are multidimensional and interconnected. Risk perception varies across social groups and is often shaped by subjective feelings toward a variety of activities, events, and technologies. Risk perception is also mediated by trust, which involves a positive expectation of an individual, an organization, and/or an institution that derives from complex processes, characteristics, and competence. Likewise, different social groups’ trust in various entities involved in household water use is subject to the significant and far-reaching impact of risk perception. The complexity of the two notions poses challenges to the measurement and exploration of their effects on household water use. In many cases, risk perception and trust can influence people’s acceptance of water sources (e.g., tap water, bottled water, recycled water, and desalinated water) and their conservation behavior (e.g., installing water-saving technologies and reducing water consumption) in household water use. Trust can affect household water use indirectly through its influence on risk perception. Moreover, trust and risk perception in household water use are neither given nor fixed; rather, they are dynamically determined by external, internal, and informational factors. A coherent, stable, transparent, and fair social and institutional structure is conducive to building trust. However, trust and risk perception differ among groups with diverse household and/or individual demographic, economic, social, and cultural characteristics. Direct information from personal experiences and, more importantly, indirect information from one’s social network, as well as from mass media and social media, play an increasingly important role in the formation and evolution of trust and risk perception, bringing a profound impact on household water use in an era of information. Future directions lie in new dynamics of risk perception and trust in the era of information explosion, the coevolution mechanism of risk perception and trust in household water use, the nuanced impacts of different types of risks (e.g., controllable and uncontrollable) on household water use, and the interactive relations of risk perception and trust across geographical contexts.

scholarly journals Barriers and opportunities for behavior change in managing high water demand in water scarce Indigenous communities: an Australian perspective

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 765-773
Author(s):  
Safaa Aldirawi ◽  
Regina Souter ◽  
Cara D. Beal
Keyword(s):  
Behavior Change ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Water Consumption ◽  
Water Conservation ◽  
Water Demand ◽  
Indigenous Communities ◽  
High Water ◽  
Indigenous Community ◽  
Water Users ◽  
Household Water

Abstract Managing water demand by reducing water consumption and improving water use efficiency has become essential for ensuring water security. This research aimed to identify the primary determinants of household water consumption in an Australian Indigenous community to develop evidence-based water demand management policies and strategies that might be implemented by the water service provider. A behavior change framework was applied to investigate the opportunity, ability, and motivational determinants affecting household water consumption and conservation in an Australian Indigenous community. The lack of water conservation knowledge and skills of high water users could be barriers to saving water. Low water users have positive attitudes towards water conservation and a higher level of awareness about their own water use. While there is a lack of a belief that water shortages will occur, low water users do have concerns of vulnerability to droughts, and that could be a driver for their sense of obligation to engage in water conservation practices. The research recommended communication messages and tools to address identified barriers to enabling positive changes to water use behaviors, which have wider applications in remote Australian Indigenous communities.

Aligning theory and measurement in behavioral models of water conservation

Water Policy ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 762-776 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bradley S. Jorgensen ◽  
John F. Martin ◽  
Meryl W. Pearce ◽  
Eileen M. Willis
Keyword(s):  
Water Consumption ◽  
Water Conservation ◽  
Behavioral Intentions ◽  
Habit Strength ◽  
Behavioral Models ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
Single Person ◽  
Consumption Data ◽  
Household Water

Discussion in the water literature has called for research on the role of behavioral intentions in explanations of both water demand and water conservation. But previous research has suggested that individual-level motivations are not good predictors of metered household water consumption. Two possible reasons for the lack of association between intentions and actual water conservation are that: (i) conservation behaviors are habitual and (ii) conservation behaviors and intention are measured at different levels of analysis. These explanations were tested in a sample of 415 residential households who provided permission to access their water consumption billing records. The effects of intentions, habit strength, and their interaction were examined in single-person households where the alignment of theory and measurement were the same. While behavioral intentions were associated with self-reports of past water conservation and habit strength, none of these variables were good predictors of water conservation. The implications of these results for the development of attitude theory using metered consumption data are discussed.

scholarly journals Assessing public participation in water conservation and water demand management in water stressed urban areas: Insights from the City of Gweru, Zimbabwe

2016 ◽  
Vol 1 (8) ◽  
pp. 30
Author(s):  
WINMORE KUSENA ◽  
Sumaiya Desai ◽  
Beckedhal Heinz ◽  
Chemura Abel
Keyword(s):  
Water Conservation ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Local Authority ◽  
Demand Management ◽  
Household Survey ◽  
User Participation ◽  
Residential Areas ◽  
Water User ◽  
Water Users ◽  
The City

<p>The paper investigates the level of water user participation in water conservation and demand management in Gweru. Data was solicited from a combination of user opinion and key informants selected from the local authority and citizen representative groups. A household survey including 489 residents was carried out in the different categories of residential areas in the city. Several water conservation and demand management measures were identified. However compliance with the measures was poor. The majority of respondents (98%) were never consulted and did not participate in water decisions. Only a few respondents (2%) participated in water conservation and demand management consultation meetings, an indicator that decision-making was the sole prerogative of the local authority. Awareness in water conservation across residential suburbs was incredibly low irrespective of the socio-economic status of high literacy level recorded in the city. To explain the anomaly, respondents reported low participation (p = 0.078) in water conservation trainings which may have translated into limited conservation literacy. The findings also revealed poor communication channels between the local authority and residents such that water users felt disrespected and disregarded. Unfortunately no initiatives were in place to encourage and enable water user participation in water management. Water conservation and demand management will remain a problem in Gweru as long as there is no point of participation for various stakeholders, especially water users. Active participation channels must be opened in order to create water conservation awareness and good relations for effective participation and sustainable water service delivery.</p>

Without households, water management is not integrated

2012 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Harriden
Keyword(s):  
Water Management ◽  
Water Conservation ◽  
Water Resource Management ◽  
Relationship Building ◽  
Conservation Practices ◽  
Domestic Water ◽  
Water Users ◽  
Household Water ◽  
Single Use ◽  
Management Policies

With the institutional and personal relationship building vital to integrated water resource management (IWRM) in practice stopping at the community scale, households and householders are largely neglected from the framework. Domestic water users are viewed as a homogenous group requiring only continuous, single-use potable supply, with equal, unproblematic access to the supplied water. Reflecting the reality of few households, this construct contributes to the development of inappropriate and ineffective institutional water management policies and practices. Using evidence from Water Diaries conducted in the ACT region, including household adoption of water conservation practices and acceptance of water restrictions, this paper demonstrates that householders are active water managers. Outlining the benefits to IWRM of incorporating household water management expertise, this paper argues it is appropriate to formally include this sector in the IWRM framework.

Saving Water

1983 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 355-374 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lawrence C. Hamilton
Keyword(s):  
Indirect Effects ◽  
Water Conservation ◽  
Water Shortage ◽  
Direct And Indirect Effects ◽  
Private Behavior ◽  
Household Water ◽  
Record Data ◽  
Billing Record ◽  
Economic Motives ◽  
Effective Conservation

The causes of household water conservation are studied using combined survey and billing-record data on 431 households in a community that recently experienced a severe water shortage. The largest reductions in water use, in absolute terms, occurred in households that had been using the most water to begin with. Smaller users often made larger percentage reductions. The most effective conservation steps involved voluntary changes in private behavior. Such steps were more likely to arise from idealistic than from economic motives, and were more common in larger, better-educated households. Idealistic motives themselves were more common in younger, better-educated, and more affluent households. In contrast, economic motives were more common in poorer, less well-educated households. Although income and education are important variables in the model, their direct and indirect effects nearly cancel each other out, so they are not good predictors of conservation. These findings have both practical and theoretical implications.

Understanding urban residential end uses of water

2011 ◽  
Vol 64 (1) ◽  
pp. 36-42 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shirley Gato-Trinidad ◽  
Niranjali Jayasuriya ◽  
Peter Roberts
Keyword(s):  
Water Consumption ◽  
Water Conservation ◽  
Water Usage ◽  
Single Family ◽  
Washing Machines ◽  
Consumption Data ◽  
Household Water ◽  
Family Home ◽  
End Use ◽  
End Uses

The ‘end use’ of water is a breakdown of the total household water usage such as water used for toilets, showers, washing machines, taps, lawn watering, etc. Understanding end uses of water will enable water planners, water authorities and household owners determine where water is used/wasted, how much and how often. This paper describes the end uses of water from a number of single-family homes in Greater Melbourne, Australia. The study involves the analysis of water consumption data recorded at 5-s intervals from logged households collected by Yarra Valley Water in Melbourne in 2004. The study determines how much water is used for outdoor and indoor purposes in a single-family home in Melbourne and compares the water usage during winter and summer. Hourly patterns of major end uses of water are also developed. The aim of this study is to improve the understanding of the end uses of water and to assist where to focus water conservation efforts that would be most effective financially and environmentally, and be acceptable to everyone.

scholarly journals Social Norms Based Eco-Feedback for Household Water Consumption

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 2796
Author(s):  
Ukasha Ramli
Keyword(s):  
Social Norms ◽  
Field Experiment ◽  
Water Consumption ◽  
Water Scarcity ◽  
Water Conservation ◽  
Habit Formation ◽  
Sustainable Consumption ◽  
Feedback Intervention ◽  
Household Water ◽  
The World

Physical water scarcity is a growing threat to people’s lives around the world. Non-pecuniary interventions that encourage water conservation amongst households are an effective tool to promote sustainable consumption. In a randomised field experiment on 3461 UK households, a social norms based eco-feedback intervention was found to reduce water consumption by around 5.43 L a day or by 1.8% over 29 months. This effect did not persist for the 10 months after the intervention was stopped suggesting a lack of habit formation. Unlike previous studies, households with low consumption at baseline reduced their consumption the most, while high consumers did not. Heterogeneity was also found across quantile treatment effects, where households in the top and bottom quantiles increased their consumption. These results further contribute to the growing evidence on the effectiveness of combining social norms and eco-feedback as an intervention for conservation.

scholarly journals Understanding household water-use behaviour in the city of Johannesburg, South Africa

Water Policy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Genius Murwirapachena
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Water Consumption ◽  
Demand Management ◽  
Water Security ◽  
Probit Regression ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Household Water ◽  
Management Policies ◽  
Efficient Water Use

Abstract Climate change, population growth and industrial activities continue to threaten water security, especially in the semi-arid regions. Demand management policies are essential in minimising the effects of acute water shortages. Such policies require information on household water consumption patterns and their behavioural practices. This study examines household water consumption behaviour and the adoption of water-efficient appliances in Johannesburg, South Africa. The study uses probit regression models to analyse survey data collected from 889 households during the period November 2017 to February 2018. Results show that while most households do not have water-efficient appliances installed in their homes, they do practise water-efficient behaviour. Older respondents as well as males and lower-income respondents are found to be more likely to practise efficient water-use behaviour. However, biographical variables do not generally influence the adoption of water-efficient appliances. These results are essential for policy-makers when formulating targeted water demand management policies. Thus, policy-makers should focus more on younger people, women and higher-income households when developing campaigns on efficient water-use behaviour.

scholarly journals What roles do smart sensors play in citizens' water use? From the perspective of household water-saving

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kang Tian ◽  
Zhuo Chen
Keyword(s):  
Water Use ◽  
Water Consumption ◽  
Water Conservation ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Water Saving ◽  
Smart Sensors ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Behavioural Intervention ◽  
Household Water ◽  
The Impact

Abstract The rapid population growth has led to increasing demand for water resources. Studies have shown that the application of new technologies can effectively influence and promote citizens to save water. The application of smart water sensors can effectively monitor household water consumption and feedback the recorded data to citizens promptly, thereby influencing family members' water-saving attitudes and behaviours. For the widespread use of future water sensors in households, it can demonstrate its essential role in three aspects: water use information feedback to reduce water consumption, water information measurement helps to cultivate water conservation awareness, and water use information release as an effective means of behavioural intervention. This research provides some suggestions for the promotion and use of smart sensors in the home and points out the future research directions for the impact of water sensing on household water-saving behaviour.

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