Socio-Technological Influences on Future Water Demands

Abstract

Abstract:The traditional water supply management approach focuses on (perceived) community requirements that must be met, but not on community demands, which are variable. Therefore a paradigm-shift is required to the way water is considered. In this paper two fundamental management measures to influence daily water demand and therefore conservation are considered: (1) Technological efficiency measures (i.e., via adopting water-saving devices); and (2) User behaviour (i.e., how users interact with and use the technologies). Through a newly developed futures framework, the individual and combined impact of these approaches within residential and office buildings are examined. Results show each in isolation has similar impacts (i.e., 55% reduction) on domestic water consumption per capita, although the ranges over which user behaviour can operate appears to be far more diverse. Most strikingly, when these measures are considered in combination, greater impact (i.e., 80% reduction) could be achieved. Conclusions are drawn as to how far water demand management, through a dual track approach, can go in terms of reducing indoor water consumption of both residential and office users within the UK. The paper provides philosophical arguments for what else is needed in order to secure sufficient, sustainable water supplies within a "liveable" future.

Advancing City Sustainability via Its Systems of Flows: The Urban Metabolism of Birmingham and Its Hinterland

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Water demand management and the quest for sustainability

“…Research into household water has sought to identify the kinds of activities that use water (Zadeh et al . ), distinguishing between values (usually instrumental and intrinsic) and pro‐environmental behaviours (Stanes et al . ).…”

Water Use Patterns in Vietnamese Hotels: Modeling Toilet and Shower Usage

“…Regarding investigations related to the water consumption and usage of toilets and showers, there are numerous studies of households in Spain [1,2], the United Kingdom [3], Australia [4], Kenya [5] and Portugal [6], in addition to the work done by the authors in Japan. However, there are fewer studies that examine usage in hotels, although hot and cold water usage in a Japanese city center hotel [7] and in a business hotel [8] have been analyzed.…”