Water Bills Research Articles

Water Disconnections and NWSC Performance in Iganga Municipality, Uganda

This study investigates the relationship between water disconnections and bills receivable management at the National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC) in Iganga Municipality. The research uses a mixed-methods approach to analyse customer perceptions regarding disconnections and their impact on revenue recovery. The findings indicate a positive correlation between the disconnection of water services due to non-payment and the financial performance of the NWSC, with the corporation recovering over 100 billion UGX annually from disconnections and reconnection fees. Despite a total billing of 3,049,102,366 UGX for the last financial year, the NWSC managed to collect only 2,728,709,173 UGX, resulting in a collection efficiency of 91%. However, infrastructure issues, economic uncertainties, and customer financial hardships affect overall revenue collection efficiency. Based on these findings, the study recommends enhanced customer engagement, improved infrastructure, flexible payment options, and the use of technology to optimize billing and revenue collection processes

AMI water meters deliver end-use water and financial savings in leaky households: experimental evidence from California

Abstract Advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) for residential water consumption is exploding globally giving water utilities the ability to improve their water tracking, billing, and distribution systems’ leak detection. With AMI, utilities have also gained the opportunity to provide real-time high-resolution water consumption information to their customers to induce conservation. Using a randomized controlled trial we find that on average homes that install AMI and receive conservation based messaging significantly reduce water consumption by 5.24 gallons per household per day beyond savings already obtained from home water reports. Of the estimated water savings we attribute 92.8% to leak reduction. While the payback period from the deployment of AMI meters and treatment in all homes is over 41 years, homes that experience leaks realize financial savings of $60/year and a treatment payback period of four years. This is because treatment did not induce water or financial savings in homes without leaks. These findings indicate that even on top of existing conservation programs, AMI messaging that targets end-user leaks could result in significant water savings, economic benefits to end-users, and advance conservation goals.

Experiences of water poverty in the metropolitan area of Barcelona: implications for the Global North

ABSTRACT Water poverty, primarily understood as a problem of affordability, is increasingly important in developed countries. It burdens vulnerable households with mounting debts or deprives them of this fundamental resource. Faced with this threat, households may modify their habits to reduce consumption and seek also assistance to reduce the amount of the water bill. Both strategies imply stressful efforts, often exacerbated by unexpected events like the COVID-19 pandemic. Using semi-structured interviews with 35 vulnerable households in a working-class town near Barcelona, in this paper we blend a quantitative assessment of home water habits with a qualitative analysis of strategies to reduce water bill costs. Results reveal a strong commitment to water savings but clashes with essential household needs, particularly for children. Respondents lament that despite intense water saving, bills remain high, given water's perceived expense and limited subsidy access. In sum, addressing the issue of water poverty from the subjective experience of those struggling against it in their daily lives allows to identify situations where basic physical and mental comfort of the more vulnerable is under severe stress. These experiences and perceptions are linked to sociopolitical and economic processes such as accumulation by dispossession or ecological modernization, contributing to water poverty.

Use of engineering economic equivalence tenets to prioritize water source(s) for use by households, ‘The Case of Mbeya City – Tanzania’

ABSTRACT In Tanzania, inadequate water access impacts 26% of urban and 38% of rural populations, heavily reliant on piped water systems prone to rationing. Low-income earners suffer from high water bills and poor water quality. Alternative sources like gravity-fed systems, rain harvesting, and drilled wells are overlooked, lacking evaluation using engineering economic equivalence (EEE) principles for prioritization. This study fills this gap by examining the literature and using Mbeya City data from users of tapped water, rain harvesting, and drilled wells to prioritize household water sources. EEE computations determine the present worth, valuing tapped water systems, rain harvesting, and drilled wells at Tshs 11,009,424/-, 10,283,000/-, and 12,099,940/-, respectively. Although rain harvesting seems favorable, it is unsuitable for drinking, and tapped water systems involve fluctuating daily costs. Consequently, the ‘drilled water system’ is the preferred option for sustainable household water access.

Analysis of Environmental Reporting Practices in Hospitality Industry in Ghana

Environmental reporting is a crucial tool for organisations to effectively communicate their environmental performance to stakeholders, foster transparency, and mitigate potential negative impacts. The study’s goal was to investigate environmental reporting practices in Ghana’s hospitality industry. The hospitality industry, despite its economic significance and environmental impact, is an excellent institution for environmental reporting studies due to Ghanaian problems and hospitality opportunities. This research employed a quantitative analysis of environmental disclosures from 192 hotels in Ghana. The researcher gathered data from annual reports, utility bills, and water bills, then conducted a systematic evaluation of these documents to gauge the extent and calibre of environmental reporting. The data was categorised into five groups using the Index of Environmental Disclosure (IED). Descriptive and inference statistics, such as measures of central tendency and dispersion, was employed to quantify and summarise the environmental disclosures. This allowed for a comprehensive assessment of present practices and the identification of opportunities for improvement in the Ghanaian hospitality industry. The study’s findings reveal the hostels’ environmental performance, with a high score of 75.52% for Environmental Policy and Initiatives. However, the study identified poor pollution management and reduction efforts at 38.44%. The Environmental Reporting Elements category scored 27.89%, which suggests more transparent reporting. The Environmental Audit and Compliance category scored 39.96%, indicating partial compliance. It emerged that a very modest positive correlation (r) of 0.12531 exists between hotel age and total disclosure, suggesting that as hotels age, their total disclosure increases marginally. The result shows significant variances in overall disclosure among the four hotel groups, with star ratings explaining much of the diversity: 2-star hotels have the lowerst mean total disclosure percentage, 3-star slightly higher, 4-star significantly higher, and 5-star highest. This positive correlation between hotel star ratings and environmental transparency shows that 4-star and 5-star hotels are more environmentally conscious. Sustainability in the hospitality industry requires environmental reporting to track progress, create standards, and drive continual improvement. This study offers valuable guidance to hotels, lawmakers, and other individuals or groups interested in promoting sustainability and transparency in the industry.

Alternative household water affordability metrics using water bill delinquency behavior

Rising water prices threaten affordable access to basic water service in the U.S., especially in low-income communities. Faced with unaffordable water bills, households may use less water than is healthy, forgo other essential services, or fall behind on water bill payments, risking water shutoffs. Affordability ratios (ARs), which express water bills as a fraction of income, are the most common measure of water affordability. However, ARs can underestimate unaffordability due to both spatial aggregation bias and their reliance on indirect proxies for ability to pay. New metrics are needed to identify households at risk of water insecurity due to affordability challenges. Here we investigate alternative water affordability metrics that use water bill late payments and debt to track actual payment behavior at the household level. We define metrics that capture the frequency, duration, and severity of water bill delinquency. We apply these metrics to a case study in Santa Cruz, California, using monthly billing data for approximately 40 000 households from 2009 through 2021. We find large variation in delinquency across households and over time, with higher delinquency linked to proxies for low wealth such as lower assessed home value. Census blocks with similar ARs often have distinct patterns of delinquency behavior, suggesting that block-level median affordability estimates may be masking sub-populations facing affordability challenges. These results highlight the benefits of using multiple, household-level metrics to capture the role affordability plays in household water security.

Households’ willingness-to-pay for different strategies aimed at reducing water supply network dysfunctions. A French case-study

ABSTRACT Using an original contingent valuation, this study compares the Willingness-To-Pay (WTP) of households for three water pipes renewal programs focused respectively on water quality, reducing leaks in networks and preventing breaks. A survey was conducted in southwest France: respondents were asked to rank the different renewal programs and then state the maximum amount they would be willing to pay in order to benefit from each. Results of a Heckman model suggest that variables influencing the probability of refusing to pay for a non-economic reason and the WTP differ from one program to another, which validates this choice of model. WTP estimates are not of the same order of magnitude whatever the program, and remained relatively low when compared to the actual water bill. While asset management is often only seen as an activity calling for specialised technical knowledge, users are able to perceive the outcome of that management process.

Liability of Housing Developers and Residents Relating to Environmental Management Dues

The purpose of this study is to investigate the legal relationship that occurs between developers and housing residents during the process of buying and selling houses starting from the binding agreement for the sale and purchase of houses until the house is occupied. Furthermore, this study discusses the liability of developers and housing residents in the event of default or unlawful acts. The policy of shutting down clean water supply carried out by developers to residents is often not only related to the failure to pay Environmental Management Dues (IPL) bills which are combined with water bills, but also often associated with other things as an effort to suppress housing residents. From a legal perspective, the developer's actions can be categorized as unlawful. On the other hand, housing residents who are dissatisfied with the developer's services choose not to pay (IPL), where from the developer's perspective, the resident's actions are in default. This study will examine legal relations and legal resolution solutions related to conflicts over Environmental Management Dues between Developers and Housing Residents.

Filtration of Grey Water Using Herbs in a Columnar Evaluation

Filtration of Grey Water Using Herbs in a Columnar Evaluation

EBillH20: Web-Based Billing and Support System for Streamlined Water Management

Bongabong Waterworks and Sanitation Association (BOWASA) currently uses a traditional method of water billing that involves taking meter readings, calculating water usage per household, and issuing billing statements. A web-based system that automatically calculates water usage and generates billing statements was proposed and developed. SMS notifications were integrated to notify consumers’ bills, due dates, and disconnection notices, and consumers were able to pay bills using online payment technology. The spiral model was used as a software development method, and the system was tested and evaluated by BOWASA management, consumers, and IT experts using ISO 25010 software quality standards. The system was found to be user-friendly, interactive, and functional, achieving its expected functions in terms of functional suitability, performance efficiency, usability, compatibility, and security. It can greatly improve BOWASA management by streamlining transactions and services and providing consumers with accurate and timely information about their water consumption and bills. It also enhances convenience for consumers by enabling online payment and SMS notifications. Overall, the web-based system can increase efficiency, accuracy, and convenience for BOWASA and its consumers.

Household water bill perception in Brazil

An issue that affects the effectiveness of water pricing policies is consumer misperception, which implies that households decide their water consumption based on poor/inaccurate information about the marginal price. We use household survey data on bill and quality perception in Brazil to analyze this problem and its drivers. Once we control for the selection bias caused by survey respondents voluntarily providing their bill, we find evidence of Bill misperception. Apart from the informational and socioeconomic drivers usually considered in the literature, perceived water quality is a relevant factor in misperception.

Analisis Faktor-Faktor Tunggakan Rekening Air Pada Perusahaan Daerah Air Minum (PDAM) Tirtanadi Provinsi Sumatera Utara

PDAM Tirtanadi is a company that provides clean water services to the general public, especially residents of HM Yamin and the surrounding area. PDAM Tirtanadi runs its operations with profits from customers who use its services. However, due to the large number of customer arrears, especially at the HM Yamin branch, the income received by PDAM Tirtanadi is less. The aim of this research is to identify variables that have the potential to cause customer water account arrears at the Tirtanadi Regional Drinking Water Company (PDAM) HM Yamin Branch. This study uses qualitative descriptions. In addition, during the research process, this research was carried out through observations, interviews and interviews, and document analysis. The research results show that the factors that cause water bill arrears include; 1) Customer economics; 2) Water is not running; 3) Water quality; 4) Buried meters; 5) Customer behavior to delay payment; and 6) Usage soars.

Effects of water, energy, and food security on household well-being.

Water, energy, and food insecurity are significant challenges that affect both economies and households, particularly in developing countries. These resources have an effect on households wellbeing, businesses, and all sectors of the economy, making them critical to ensuring household well-being, which is frequently measured by quintile welfare. As a result, there has been a significant increase in interest in securitizing these resources in order to mitigate their negative effects on household's wellbeing This study provides an empirical investigation of the determinants of water, energy, and food (WEF) security and the effect of water, energy, and food security on household well-being in Ghana. This study provides an empirical investigation of the determinants of water, energy, and food (WEF) security and the effect of water, energy, and food security on household well-being in Ghana. The study used a sample of 2,735 households from the Ghana Living Standard Survey (GLSS) Wave 7. We applied an instrumental variable probit, complementary log-log and ordered Probit estimation techniques for analysis. Empirical analysis reveals several important findings. Firstly, factors such as age, credit access, household location, employment status, and livestock ownership positively contribute to household water security, while remittances, water supply management, water bills, and water quantity have negative impacts. Secondly, age, marital status, household size, remittances, and livestock ownership significantly influence household energy security. Thirdly, marital status, household income, credit access, and household size are crucial determinants of household food security, with residence and region of household location exerting negative effects. Additionally, while water and energy security have a relatively lower impact on household well-being, food security emerges as a key driver in promoting household wellbeing. The study recommends that policymakers and stakeholders design and implement robust programs and interventions to sustain households' water, energy, and food supply.

Android-Based Monitoring and Meter Recording Applications

It is difficult for the people of Dlimas Tegalrejo village to find out information on drinking water bills and payment due dates. They have to wait for the presence of Pamsimas officers to find out this information. Water customers also cannot access billing and payment data in real time. This study aims to produce an application system for monitoring and recording metering in the village of Dlimas, Tegalrejo using a QR code with a mobile-based application. This system will be designed using the prototyping method, database design using ERD, and application design using UML. This application is built using Firebase services to produce Android-based applications. This research produces an Android- based application with three access rights, namely officer, admin and customer. Officers can send customer data meter numbers with the QR code scan feature. The admin is in charge of inputting customer meter data. Customers can view data on drinking water bills in real time. This study produced several algorithms in mobile programming, namely water payment calculations, late payment calculations, fine calculations, tariff and price data, and total payment calculations. The designed system can complete the work in 23.34 seconds or four times faster than the previous process.

Desain Prototype dan Implementasi Sistem Informasi Pencatatan Meter Air (SICAIR)

Penyediaan Air Minum dan Sanitasi Berbasis Masyarakat (PAMSIMAS) aims to improve access to and quality of drinking water and sanitation in rural areas. However, the manual management of water meter readings and billing by Kelompok Pengelola Sarana Prasarana Air Minum Sanitasi (KPSPAMS) Tirto Wening, Samirono Village, has led to issues with accuracy and timeliness of water bills. Therefore, this research aims to design a water meter recording system. The system design scope includes recording water meters, calculating bills, processing payments, and generating water usage reports. The development method employs a prototype approach with the Bootstrap framework. The resulting system, named SICAIR, provides accurate billing and water usage reports that meet user needs. SICAIR offers a solution to PAMSIMAS management issues related to the accuracy of meter readings and the timeliness of water bill generation in Samirono Village.

Index-based insurance to mitigate current and future extreme events financial losses for water utilities

Mitigation and management strategies for extreme weather events become increasingly important for the development and maintenance of society as these events become more frequent and intense. Drought and flood management strategies have focused on structural measures; however, they are not sufficient to prevent water supply disruptions and economic losses. In this concept, adaptation plays the role of anticipating the adverse financial impacts of extreme weather events and taking appropriate measures to minimize them. Therefore, insurance is a valuable adaptation tool to offset unexpected losses and prevent financial damage from turning into long-term economic damage. We simulated multi-year and multi-risk index-based insurance for a Water Supply System, responsible for providing water to 7.2 million people. Our methodology comprises (1) characterizing the indexed variable, (2) calculating economic losses by Loss Distribution Approach (LDA) for current and future periods, and (3) estimating risk premiums based on expected losses of the low, medium, and high coverage levels. Our findings indicate a linear relationship between premium and coverage level, i.e, the higher the premium, the higher the insurance coverage level. We suggested a premium fee for each evaluated scenario, which would be introduced into the water bill as a novel way to pool risk among customers and protect them from surcharge fluctuations.

Keep your head above water: Explaining disparities in local drinking water bills

Rising water bills across the U.S. underscore the need to understand the factors that contribute to disparities in local system bills. In this paper, we examine residential water bill amounts from 1,720 systems in four states in different regions of the U.S. (Arizona, Georgia, New Hampshire and Wisconsin) to (1) examine how local system bills at a constant consumption level (4,000 gallons per month or 15.14m3) for drinking water vary within and across states, as well as within combined metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs), and (2) study the relationship between local system bills and system-level characteristics. We find a high degree of similarity in median bill amounts between states but substantial variation within them at the MSA and local system scale. Our multivariate analysis suggests that municipally-owned systems are more likely to have lower water bills relative to for-profit systems, while factors such as purchasing water and having neighboring systems with high bills significantly correlate with higher water bills. Though we find that water systems with high levels of poverty tend to have higher water bills, our results also suggest that local systems that serve populations with higher levels of income inequality and higher proportions of non-White population tend to have lower water bills. These findings point to future research and data needs to better inform federal, state and local water affordability policy and underline the importance of examining and addressing water affordability at local scales.

Assessing environmental profiles: An analysis of water consumption and waste recycling habits

Individual pro-environmental attitudes and behaviors are determinant for long-term sustainability. We assessed profiles of an exclusive sample of 1351 households in the municipality of Gijón, Spain, in terms of their water consumption and recycling patterns using Latent Class Analysis (LCA). This methodology allows for households to be classified into groups without imposing any ad hoc criteria and provides information on the determinants of belonging to each group. The database includes the water consumption, self-reported environmental attitudes, and socioeconomic characteristics of the households. The results showed four significant household groups, where smaller families located in urban areas containing at least one homemaker and equipped with water efficient devices are more likely to present the best pro-environmental attitudes and behaviors related to water use and recycling habits. Furthermore, we found that providing better information in terms of water billing and the environmental impact of human behavior also fosters environmentally friendly habits.

Addressing non-revenue water as a global problem and its interlinkages with sustainable development goals

Abstract By 2050, over 40% of the global population could face severe water stress. The 2030 Agenda explicitly integrates water resources, supply, and sanitation, emphasizing sustainability for present and future generations. Non-revenue water (NRW) creates a barrier to sustainability through energy, water loss, and money not collected through water bills. However, NRW is well recognized by water service providers, and a comprehensive solution is lacking. Addressing NRW is vital to sustainable operations and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This desk literature review investigates NRW's links with SDGs, highlighting global and local impacts, flameworking interconnections, and revealing economic, social, and environmental consequences. The study revealed that NRW not only aligns with various SDGs, particularly SDG 6 and SDG 13, but also has synergies with other goals related to energy and sustainable consumption. Reducing NRW can achieve more sustainable and resilient water systems, and contribute to the broader SDG. The cost of NRW extends beyond the financial implications for water utilities. It also encompasses the economic impacts on industries and businesses, which impacts exceeded water productivity, increased operational costs, and economic development constraints.

Technical and Financial Feasibility Analysis of Rainwater Harvesting Using Conventional or Green Roofs in an Industrial Building

Given the high annual water consumption for non-potable uses (1112.08 m3, 65%) of an industrial building with a large roof area (4638 m2) located in the Northeast of Portugal, this study aims to evaluate the technical and financial feasibility of a rainwater harvesting system for these uses, considering the existing conventional roof (scenario 1) and adapting a green roof to the existing roof (scenario 2). This evaluation was based on the impact of the two scenarios on the building’s water savings. Under scenarios 1 and 2, the expected water savings were 64.47% and 59.43%, respectively. Therefore, the expected reduction in the annual water bill was €3867.07 + VAT (scenario 1) and €3564.63 + VAT (scenario 2). For scenario 1, considering a reservoir with 70 m3 for non-potable purposes, such as washing the building’s floor and use in industrial machines, and an initial investment of €41,109.13 + VAT, the single payback will be 11.29 years. The single payback for scenario 2 largely exceeded the lifetime of the green roof. However, as they are considered interesting solutions to reduce the negative externalities of industrial settlements, financial incentives could be proposed for the implementation of the green roof in this typology of buildings.