Abstract
This study aims to identify the factors that may influence water consumption in single-family households in the city of Joinville, Southern Brazil. Through questionnaires, data were collected from 108 households in several neighborhoods of the city. The questionnaires contained open-ended and closed-ended questions involving the surrounding infrastructure, socio-economic and demographic characteristics, constructive characteristics, installed plumbing fixtures, and water-use habits, totaling 57 variables. The independent variables were correlated to monthly water consumption (m3/month/household) and per capita consumption (liters/person/day) of each household. The statistically significant variables that affected households water consumption were related to demographic characteristics such as number of residents and educational level, construction features (i.e., number of bathrooms, building age, and built area), the presence of water-efficient appliances and water conservation habits. The results obtained can contribute to the development of new studies on water consumption and sustainable policies and awareness on the importance of water conservation.
Highlights
Water scarcity is an important factor influencing the acceptance of alternative water sources by users [1]
The results indicated that housing type, income, inhabitants per household, presence of outdoor uses, kinds of species planted in the garden and consumer behavior play a significant role in explaining variations in water consumption
This study presented an exploratory analysis of factors that may influence water consumption in households in Joinville, Southern Brazil
Summary
Water scarcity is an important factor influencing the acceptance of alternative water sources by users [1]. According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN OCHA) [2], two-thirds of the world’s population will face water scarcity by 2050. One-sixth of the world’s population do not have enough water supply, and two-fifths do not have access to adequate sanitation. An analysis of key factors in water usage enables the establishment and assessment of measures to encourage water conservation and reduce water misuse in buildings. This can be achieved by using rainwater, greywater, and water-efficient appliances [3]. The savings achieved by water demand management programs can have a significant impact on the water supply system [4]
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