Long-Term Sustainability of Water Cellars in Traditional Chinese Villages: Factors Influencing Continuous Use and Effective Water Management Initiatives

Abstract

Traditional rainwater harvesting systems have seen a shift of emphasis in recent years. While recognizing its social, economic and environmental contributions, sustainable use in a modern context can be vulnerable. Through a case study, this study focuses on the long-term sustainability of water cellars in traditional villages if reliable piped water is introduced. The aim is to discern the factors and renovation methods that influence residents’ willingness to continue using these water cellars. The results show that the overall willingness to use them is very low. However, regardless of their continued use or non-use, only a few residents would landfill them. Most residents were interested in their renovation, especially regarding simplifying rainwater harvesting methods. In addition, the management time for rainwater harvesting and heritage identity is positively correlated with the willingness for sustainable use; conversely, the identification of the environmental contribution has no positive correlation. Given these findings, we propose carrying out effective renovation that changes the rainwater catchment surface to roofs and increases residents’ awareness that water cellars can only be heritage if they are in use. By defining the long-term sustainability of a water cellar, this study shows how a quantitative approach focusing on heritage users can offer important insights into a constructive evolution rather than a destructive reconstruction under the influence of modernization. Finally, this study provides planners and water resource managers with effective, sustainable management practices for water cellars as well as similar systems in a historical context.

Determinants of Long-Term Water and Energy Conservation Behavior: An Integrated Review

“…Only [13] conducted a survey on the intentions to maintain drinking water conservation behavior. Other studies looked into the willingness to change to a more efficient system [76][77][78] and setting goals [79] to increase conservation behavior. The study designs are predominantly surveys, with [79]'s experimental study design as the exception.…”

“…The attitude toward comfort and the opinion on the environment are positive determinants of the intention to conserve water and energy [80]. Currently experienced levels of comfort are barriers to start conserving water and energy [13,78,79]. Without an intervention, if the household is satisfied and experiences comfort from the current levels of water and energy use, there is a decreased intention to change the behavior.…”

“…Attitudes like environmental concern can trigger an intention to maintain conservation behavior. The more concerned a household is about the environment, the more likely it is to display intentions to maintain efficiency conservation behavior like using renewable energy or signing up for an energy-saving program [76][77][78][79]. The idea of contributing to the environment [78] or financial incentives [77] increases the willingness to adopt new efficient appliances.…”

“…The more concerned a household is about the environment, the more likely it is to display intentions to maintain efficiency conservation behavior like using renewable energy or signing up for an energy-saving program [76][77][78][79]. The idea of contributing to the environment [78] or financial incentives [77] increases the willingness to adopt new efficient appliances. Other stimuli for intending to maintain conservation behavior are consumption literacy [13,79] and social norms [13,76].…”

“…According to [14], behavioral changes that have a low level of discomfort are more likely to persist than behaviors with high discomfort. Satisfaction as a result of highly frequent behaviors can be a barrier to limiting the frequency [37,78]. For example, if one enjoys a long shower every morning, it would take effort to adjust this behavior because one would be tempted to defer back to the satisfying behavior.…”