IWA Publishing Water Conservation in Urban Households: Role of Prices, Policies and Technologies

On 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. Water Conservation in Urban Households is a one-stop repository of information on all aspects of water conservation in the urban residential sector. The book provides several detailed case studies of cities to understand the effectiveness of various price and non-price demand management tools, as well as the lessons learnt. The limited use of technical jargons or mathematical elements will make it an easy read for policy makers and the general population who may not be specialized in this area. It can also serve as a starting point for students and researchers who aim to work in this field.