Water Conservation Behavior Research Articles

Convenience orientation, environmental concerns and resource conservation behaviours

There is a concern that convenience orientation, especially lifestyles that prefer convenience to sustainability, could lead to increased resource consumption, posing a challenge to sustainable consumption. This study aims to provide empirical evidence showing that convenience orientation may not necessarily harm the environment but helps conserve resources. We designed our survey to collect data on convenience orientation and environmental concerns from 361 households living in the capital city of Pakistan. Using the structural equation modelling approach, we examine how convenience orientation, environmental concerns and socioeconomic importance affect food, water, and energy conservation behaviours. Our results reveal a positive association between convenience orientation, environmental concerns and conservation behaviours while socioeconomic importance negatively associated with the food, water and energy conservation behaviours. This finding is contradictory to concerns that convenience orientation might undermine sustainability efforts.

Place attachment, spirituality and residential water conservation behaviour in Australia’s Northern Territory: application of an extended protection motivation theory

ABSTRACT Despite warnings of impending water scarcity concerns, most residents persistently engage in excessive water consumption behaviours, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions. This has spurred interest in understanding why water demand management strategies fail to foster voluntary residential conservation behaviours. Recent literature indicates a lack of consideration of cultural factors that may influence residential water conservation. Thus, this study draws on and extends the protection motivation theory with place attachment and spirituality to examine how cultural and psychological factors influence residential water conservation intention and behaviour. Analysing 346 survey responses, the study reveals that place attachment amplifies vulnerability and severity perceptions regarding water scarcity concerns and significantly drives perceptions of self and response efficacies for water conservation intention and behaviour. In particular, the study reveals that as a resident’s spirituality increases, the intention for water conservation behaviour reduces. The study highlights theoretical and practical implications for scholars and policymakers.

Assessing the suitability of groundwater resources based on farmers’ predicted intentions and human–water feedbacks

In this study, a behavioral −hydrological simulation modeling framework is developed to explore the functioning of human-water systems. The main objective is to identify the psycho-social factors affecting water conservation intentions among farmers, and then realize the interactions and bidirectional feedback between humans and water resources. For this purpose, the agent-based modeling (ABM) and extended theory of planned behavior (TPB) is recruited to reflect on the agents’ behaviors. As the first step, the framework of the extended TPB together with the agent behavior was designed via field researches through the completion of 169 questionnaires upon proportional-to-size (PPS) random sampling. The partial least squares-structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) is then implemented, at the second step, to analyze the data and obtain the weights of the extended TPB constructs. The results reveal that the constructs supplemented to the TPB, including moral norms (MNs) and perceived risk (PR), could have significant effects on water conservation intentions and behaviors among farmers. At the last step, the farmers and their decision-making as the dynamic elements by obtaining feedbacks of water resources were modeled using the ABM. To evaluate the proposed framework, the recorded data of groundwater fluctuations and cultivated areas in the Lenjanat plain is utilized and compared with the socio-hydrological simulation modeling outcomes using the Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency (NSE) coefficient. Then, five scenarios are defined to shed light on the changes in the agent behavior on the aquifer suitability, including water consumption rate and groundwater levels in the aquifer. The results correspondingly demonstrated that merging the second and third scenarios in an effort to raise the prices of crops with low water need along with the increase in utility costs (here, water and electricity) could lead to a 75% increase of farmers’ income and a 21.5% reduction in the surface and groundwater uses in this region, implying the highest level of water conservation among other scenarios.

WITHDRAWN: Influencing conservation: The role of socio-psychological factors on consumer water-saving intentions and practices

Addressing the pressing issue of water scarcity, this research delves into the multifaceted factors that drive water conservation behaviors, pivotal for the sustainable management of this vital resource. By melding the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) with the Value-Belief-Norm (VBN) theory, the study introduces an integrative model that encompasses a range of determinants, including water-saving values, environmental regulations, and the emotional dimensions of water conservation. The study reveals that egocentric values, in tandem with perceived environmental regulations, indirectly shape water-saving intentions through their influence on attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control. The role of positive emotions in bolstering the impact of social norms on water-saving intentions is also emphasized. This research not only enriches the understanding of the complex interplay between cognitive and emotional factors in water conservation but also provides critical guidance for policymakers seeking to foster sustainable water use among the populace. The findings advocate for a holistic approach that leverages both the head and the heart in promoting behaviors that can help secure water resources for future generations.

Water conservation by managers at the workplace: Examination of attitudes and behaviour using the theory of planned behaviour

Understanding the behavioural drivers of water conservation in public spaces is essential for enhancing the effectiveness of water resources management and water use especially in water scarce environments. This study used the Theory of Planned Behaviour to determine the contributing factors of water conservation attitude and behaviour among managers at work. Data were collected from 72 managers at North-West University – Mahikeng, South Africa through self-administered survey questionnaire. Results showed that behaviour practices of reporting water leakages and closing taps were prevalent among the managers. Furthermore, positive correlations including length of service (r = 0.791); training on water issues (r = 0.542); gender (r = 0.509) and speaking about water conservation (r = 0.091) emerged as significant predictors of a water conservation attitude and behaviour. Promotion of water conservation attitude and behaviour through education and training would have a greater tendency among managers to conserve water at work.

Sustainable Water Conservation and Management Practices: A Perception Survey of the Farmers of Haryana, India

In order to ensure water sustainability, alarming levels of water scarcity across the globe is a critical issue warranting urgent address. The present study aims to bring to light the perception of farmers regarding water conservation and management practices from the selected five districts of the Haryana region of India. By analyzing the responses of 125 farmers, collected through a self-administered questionnaire, the impact of socio-demographic factors, current irrigation system, and cost-benefit perception of the farmers was studied on water conservation and management practices. Using ordinal regression analysis, the study revealed that the cost-benefit perception of the farmers, viz. willingness to pay an additional price for canal water and an increase in the availability of water due to canal lining, are the major factors responsible for undertaking conservation and sustainability measures. Further, socio-demographic variables such as age and education also influence water conservation behavior. The study recommends vital policy reforms and initiatives for efficient water use and management to resolve the grave concern of scarcity of usable water. The present study is unique in its suggestion of a comprehensive water conservation and management framework.

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

Over the last decades, drinking water and energy use have increased exponentially. To preserve ecosystems in the long term, a change in behavior is necessary on all levels of society including on the household level. This paper presents an integrated review of the determinants of long-term drinking water and energy conservation behavior of households. We identified forty-nine relevant studies discussing long-term conservation behavior in the context of drinking water and energy use. Long-term conservation behavior was measured as either persistent behavior, maintaining behavioral change, or intentions to maintain behavior, each with specific determinants. We found four key factors for long-term conservation behavior: consumption feedback, household characteristics, effort, and motives for conservation behavior. For future studies, we suggest follow-up questionnaires or interviews to measure the persistence of behavior and differentiate between curtailment and efficiency behavior. Worthwhile avenues for future research on long-term conservation behavior are household-tailored feedback mechanisms and the interaction between contextual factors and effort-based choices.

Eliciting small island tourists’ ecological protection, water conservation, and waste reduction behaviours

Small island destinations possess fragile ecosystems that are susceptible to the effects of tourism. Ensuring sustainability in these destinations is undoubtedly of utmost importance. This research delved into the fundamental cognitive, affective, and normative processes underlying tourists' intentions toward ecological protection, water conservation, and waste reduction during their visits to small island destinations. Additionally, the study examined the moderating role of environmental protection activities in everyday life. Cutting-edge statistical methods, specifically generalized structured component analysis with measurement errors incorporated and necessary condition analysis, were applied to validate a theoretical model and uncover the crucial factors influencing tourists' intentions concerning environmental protection. The findings categorised the predictive constructs into four groups: necessary and sufficient, necessary but insufficient, unnecessary but sufficient, and unnecessary and insufficient. Our findings shed light on the essential and/or nonessential factors that shape tourists’ ecological intentions in small island destinations.

Resident water conservation behaviors among different age groups in rural areas of the Weibei arid belt, China

Understanding water conservation behaviors across various age groups is crucial for developing effective water resource management strategies particularly in arid and semiarid zones. Based on a semi-structural questionnaire survey of 445 households in China's Weibei arid belt and extended Theory of Planned Behavior Model, a Structural Equation Model (SEM) was constructed to elucidate the age-related impact of water conservation knowledge, attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived control on water-saving behaviors. The results show that (1) youth group prioritizes personal hygiene and laundry activities whereas the elderly exhibit lower such requirements. (2) Water consumption varies significantly by age, with the elderly group consumes the least, averaging 62.26 L per capita per day (Lpcd), followed by the middle-aged group at 73.95 Lpcd, and the youth at the highest consumption rate of 84.60 Lpcd. (3) Influential factors on water conservation behavior differ substantially by age: Among the youth, water conservation behavior is strongly influenced by attitude in this domain (standardized path coefficient [SPC] = 0.32). The middle-aged group is influenced by subjective norms (SPC = 0.27) and attitudes toward water conservation (SPC = 0.27). Conversely, the elder group's behavior is dominated by knowledge (SPC = 0.35) and perceived control (SPC = 0.32). Given such distinct perceptions and behaviors of household water consumption, tailored water conservation strategies are essential of water conservation education through social media for youth, tiered pricing for the middle-aged, and water-saving subsidies to the elderly in the case areas.

Tracking and tracing water consumption for informed water sensitive intervention through machine learning approach

To develop a water conscious strategy, it is critical to track and trace water from its source to the end users, understand water conservation behaviors, and identify the factors that influence water consumption. However, in developing nations, little research has been done to provide a quantitative picture of how water is consumed and transformed in urban households, as well as the water sensitive interventions needed to improve access to clean water. Hence, the main objective of the study was to determine the most significant residential water consumption variables and to predict residential water consumption in a way that can generate water consumption information for water sensitive intervention decision making using the case study of Adama city in Ethiopia. A combination of top down and bottom up data collection techniques were employed as the data collection instrument. Machine learning was integrated with spatial and socioeconomic analytic techniques to estimate daily household water consumption and identify the factors that significantly influence household water consumption. The results show that there is only “one source option” for the city’s clean water supply and that different water harvesting methods are not likely to be developed. The average daily water consumption per person is 69 liters which falls below the national standard of 80 liters allocated per person per day. The result reveals that the water distribution network covers only 45% of the city master plan. About 38% of the water demand is unmet and 30% of households only receive water once every three days or fewer. This shows that the city is experiencing physical and economic water scarcity. The results demonstrated that family size, housing quality, income, number of rooms, legal status of the parcel, supply reliability, climate, and topographical features are the most important factors in predicting residential water consumption. This study further demonstrates how well supervised machine learning models, such as the Random Forest Regression algorithm, can predict the household’s daily water consumption. The findings also showed that there is a need for significant improvements in water saving habits of the households. Another conclusion that can be drawn is that as long as the city’s business as usual water consumption practice doesn’t change, the water supply problem will worsen over time.

Perceptions of how occupants adopt water conservation behaviors under psychosocial processes: A complementary dual-stage SEM-ANN perspective

This study delved into socio-psychological determinants driving residential water curtailment actions, an area relatively overlooked in the existing literature. The theory of planned behavior was innovatively expanded with moral norms, perceived expectations, self-identity, and risk-related components. The proposed framework was empirically examined by conducting an online self-administered survey of 343 citizens residing in Isfahan, Iran. What sets this research apart is introducing a new multi-analytical hybrid approach integrating linear and non-linear techniques to leverage their respective strengths. Artificial neural network (ANN), coupled with Sobol sensitivity analysis, was employed to robustly validate structural equation modeling (SEM) results regarding the framework's explanatory power and predictors' ranking. Through providing reliable performance, the ANN analysis confirmed SEM findings, revealing that the significant influences of moral norms and self-identity on intention are mediated by attitude and perceived behavioral control. Moreover, self-identity and attitude were the strongest direct predictors of behavior and intention. Several policy recommendations were proposed, with the following highlighted as crucial: (1) fostering favorable water conservation attitudes, which entails targeting individuals' moral considerations and inducing self-reward feelings within the community; (2) cultivating a sense of water conservation identity among citizens; and (3) boosting individuals’ self-confidence and facilitating their engagement in water conservation behaviors.

Risks and farmers' behavior change towards water conservation: a study in the Southeast of Iran

Abstract Frequent droughts in Iran have influenced farmers' social and economic lives and have entailed extensive negative consequences. This research aimed to study the process by which farmers adopt water conservation behavior and explore the intervention of perceived risks and risk attitude. This survey was conducted among farmers in the Sistan region in the southeast of Iran (N = 6,000). A sample of 361 farmers was selected by multistage cluster randomization. The research instrument was a researcher-made questionnaire whose reliability was checked by Cronbach's alpha and composite reliability in a pilot study and whose content validity was confirmed by a panel of agricultural sociologists. The data were analyzed using mean, percentage, and structural equation modeling in the SPSSwin26 and AMOS24 software suites. The results reveal that perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, perceived benefits, perceived barriers, self-efficacy, and cues to action influence farmers' water conservation behavior positively and significantly. Also, most components of the health belief model are influenced by farmers' perceived risks and risk attitude. It can be concluded that it is imperative to focus on socio-psychological components to promote water conservation behavior and use water scarcity-coping strategies in Iran.

Extracting indicators of connectedness to nature to improve water conservation behavior in agriculture

To better understand the connection between humans and nature, as well as why destructive behaviors occur that have led to drastic environmental changes, it is important to understanding determine the factors affecting this relationship, as well as extension and strengthening pro-environmentalist attitudes and behaviors in relation to nature can to provide appropriate solutions to the climate crisis. In this regard, it is very important to pay attention to human behavior in agriculture and water resources management. The purpose of the research was to extract indicators of connectedness to nature (CTN) in order to improve water conservation behavior (WCB) in the agriculture sector. To achieve this goal, the classic Delphi technique was used to get experts' opinions. The statistical population of this study was 20 subject matter experts in the fields of agricultural extension and education, environment and water resources, who were selected in a purposeful way. The results included the extraction of 140 indicators in the first stage of Delphi, and in the final stage, 100 indicators were confirmed and finalized. These indicators are in the form of CTN components (including cognitive, affective and behavioral dimensions), WCB, water conservation environmental values (including egoistic, altruistic and biospheric attitudes), environmental norms (including subjective and social norms), water conservation beliefs, environmental concern, empathy with nature, mindfulness, place attachment, place identity and environmental identity were divided. The obtained indicators can be used by policy makers and decision makers to evaluate the concept of CTN in relation to WCB in the agriculture sector.

Changing patterns of household water consumption and conservation behaviour in Bangladesh: an exploration in the context of COVID-19 pandemic

Changing patterns of household water consumption and conservation behaviour in Bangladesh: an exploration in the context of COVID-19 pandemic

Changing patterns of household water consumption and conservation behaviour in Bangladesh: an exploration in the context of COVID-19 pandemic

Changing patterns of household water consumption and conservation behaviour in Bangladesh: an exploration in the context of COVID-19 pandemic

Barriers and Motivators of Household Water-Conservation Behavior: A Bibliometric and Systematic Literature Review

Water scarcity, aggravated by growing demands, represents a significant challenge for humanity. Promoting household sustainable water-consumption behaviors has become vital. The Community-Based Social Marketing (CBSM) framework stands out among many strategies to promote water conservation. However, many interventions in this domain often neglect significant theoretical insights, leading to gaps in addressing key social and contextual drivers of behavior. This study conducts a systematic and bibliometric literature review aimed at identifying determinants underlying household water-conservation behaviors. This review encompasses 155 papers published from 1984 to early 2023. Our findings show that this is a highly multidisciplinary field of study with a marked increase in research attention discerned post-2010, particularly from water-stressed regions. Furthermore, our findings also reveal an often-overlooked integration of guiding theories and an over-reliance on self-reported measures in prior research. Factors such as attitude, perceived efficacy, emotions, and habits emerge as pivotal in understanding water conservation. However, while attitudes have been extensively analyzed in previous research, the other factors deserve greater attention from researchers. Inconsistencies in demographic predictors further hint at potential moderating roles. This paper offers valuable insights for designing effective household water-conservation interventions through a social marketing lens.

Household Water Conservation in Pakistan: An Examination of Strategies, Behaviors and Determinants

Water scarcity poses a major sustainability challenge for Pakistan’s social, economic and environmental conditions. Implementing effective domestic water conservation techniques can significantly reduce consumption and wastage amidst supply constraints. This study evaluates household water conservation behaviors and drivers in Faisalabad city using primary survey data from 140 urban and rural households. Descriptive analysis is conducted to assess water usage patterns, infrastructure access, and conservation habits. An ordered logit model is estimated to determine the socioeconomic factors influencing adoption of daily water saving practices. The results indicate that basic no-cost actions like controlled tap use and leak monitoring are widely practiced across both urban and rural residences. However, the uptake of advanced solutions like rainwater harvesting remains limited. Age, family size and location are significant predictors of conservation orientation. Older residents, smaller families and rural households display greater propensity for prudent water use. The findings suggest that tailored educational programs, inclusive technologies, and pricing mechanisms can further propagate sustainable utilization behaviors, especially among young urban cohorts. Building an enduring culture of conservation is imperative to overcoming Pakistan’s escalating water scarcity crisis.

Water conservation behaviour: evidence from Kuwait

ABSTRACT The paper reports analysis of data from a household survey concerning water conservation behaviour in Kuwait. Econometric models were used for nine conservation measures, The models were estimated for nationals and expatriates. The results revealed that households made efforts to conserve water by changing habits/practices. The results failed to support the theory of planned behaviour as water conservation campaign had no effect on households’ water conservation. Awareness about environment and water conservation did not result in pro-conservation behaviour.

Conceptualization of Farmers’ Water Conservation Intention and Behavior through the Lens of Economic Man Worldview: Application of Structural Equation Modeling

Although different worldviews have been presented to analyze the conservation behaviors of farmers, limited empirical evidence exists for the use of the economic man worldview to analyze farmers’ water conservation behaviors (WCBs). Therefore, the conceptualization of farmers’ water conservation behavioral intentions through the lens of this worldview was the primary objective of this survey. To this aim, the extended planned behavior theory (PBT), which is the main theory of the economic man worldview, was employed. The study population was 36183 Iranian farmers, 380 of whom were interviewed in-person in the form a cross-sectional survey research design. An estimation of sample size was performed via the Krejcie and Morgan Table. Moreover, the distribution of the sample size was carried out by a multi-stage random sampling method. Validity and reliability, which are undeniable features of questionnaires in social and psychological sciences, were examined using different quantitative and qualitative indices. The obtained results indicated that the effect of intention towards water conservation (IWC) on WCB was positive and significant. Therefore, this research supports the main assumption of the PBT and the economic man worldview. However, according to the results, the power of IWC’s effect on WCB is not very significant. In addition, the variance explanation of WCB as the fundamental dependent variable is not very high. It can be mentioned that the economic man worldview has a relative and moderate power to analyze the WCBs of farmers. Hence, it is suggested that some variables, including moral norms, environmental concerns, and environmental values, are used to develop and increase the explanatory power of the PBT in future studies. This study is the first study of the applicability of the economic man approach in analyzing farmers’ WCBs. It could be used to open a new research window for future and interested researchers to conduct successful interventions in the field of water conservation.

Sociodemographic determinants of water conservation behavior: A comprehensive analysis

The manifold repercussions of climate change encompass diverse facets, encompassing the management of resources, agricultural infrastructure, production systems, and their profound implications for food security, self-sufficiency, and the overall well-being of societies. Regrettably, a significant portion of the populace remains indifferent to or uninformed about the adoption of water conservation practices. Previous scholarship has scrutinized factors influencing individual water-saving behaviors, yet these inquiries have predominantly overlooked the broader contextual elements shaping communal conduct. This study undertakes a comprehensive investigation to discern the multifaceted factors and sociodemographic variables that exert influence upon the water-saving conduct of individuals within a community. Primary data were collected through structured questionnaires administered to a sample of 633 participants. Employing rigorous factor analysis, we distilled a reduced set of factors from the multitude of variables under examination. Factor 1 exhibits a robust association with the utilization of water conservation equipment, while Factor 2 delineates patterns in water usage behavior. Furthermore, this research advances the discourse by deploying a probit model to delineate the relationship between sociodemographic characteristics, such as gender and occupation, and community engagement in water conservation in response to government incentives. Notably, the significance of these models is comparable across different sociodemographic groups, highlighting that both women and individuals with diverse occupational profiles stand to benefit from incentivized water-saving initiatives.