Water Conservation in Urban Households Roles of Prices, Policies and Technologies

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.

Water Conservation in Urban Households is a one-stop repository of information on water conservation for academics, practitioners and policy makers. The text can be used for teaching and research on water demand management as well as for professional reference by water utility officials. In addition, the appendix of the book contains a database of the current domestic water and wastewater tariffs and monthly bills of selected cities, which will be helpful for those willing to conduct research in this field.

Water conservation; the answer to water shortage in the 21st century, Determinants of domestic water consumption; theories and observations, Role of prices; water tariffs, role of policy - regulations and conservation programs, Role of technology; water saving devices, Demand side management tools; comparing price and non-price approaches.