Water Conservation Behavior Research Articles

Toward achieving persistent behavior change in household water conservation

Achieving persistence in household behavior modification has been a central but elusive goal of environmental conservation attempts that rely on behavioral interventions. We implemented a habit change intervention, designed to achieve persistent change in household water conservation behavior in an affluent residential community in urban India. We found a 15 to 25% reduction in household water consumption in the absence of any volumetric pricing. Most importantly, the effects of our 5-wk intervention persisted for more than a year, after which marginal pricing was introduced. The treatment gap was not bridged even after a year under the marginal price regime.

Predicting college students' future intentions to engage in public-sphere water conservation behaviors

The purpose of this study was to describe selected college students’ (N = 252) perceptions of and future intentions (FI) to engage in public-sphere water conservation behaviors, and to determine if FI could be predicted by a single or linear combination of student demographic characteristics and latent variables. A majority of respondents agreed a growing population will negatively affect water quantity (90.5%) and there is a need for water resource management (85.6%). A majority disagreed or strongly disagreed that they (53.4%), their family (57.1%), or their friends (67.5%) practiced water conservation, or that people in their hometowns were concerned about local water availability (78.1%). A majority agreed they would engage in four of five public-sphere water conservation behaviors in the future: support water conservation programs (86.4%), care more deeply about water conservation (81.2%), join a water conservation organization (79.2%), and vote for stricter water use laws (55.0%). Fewer than one-half agreed or strongly agreed they would donate money to support water conservation (45.8%). Responses to statements concerning water conservation were factor analyzed and two factors were extracted: lack of agency (LA) and subjective norms (SN). A linear combination of gender, LA, and SN explained 36.7% of the variance in FI.

Explaining farmers’ response to water crisis through theory of the norm activation model: Evidence from Iran

In the recent years, frequent droughts and excessive use of water by farmers have exposed Iran at serious risk of drought, even in most areas; consequences of dehydration are clearly visible. Therefore, the main objective of this study was investigating determinants of water conservation behavior among farmers. In this regard, an extended theory of the norm activation model (NAM) was used as theoretical framework for the research by adding the variable of environmental concern (EC). The research was carried out using questionnaire survey method and with the help of structural equation modeling (SEM). Statistical population of the study included all farmers cultivating wheat in Khuzestan Province (southwest of Iran). The research findings showed that the initial NAM accounts for 0.301% of the variance in farmers' water conservation behavior. Nine primary NAM structures including awareness of consequences (AC), awareness of need (AN), situational responsibility (SR), outcome efficacy (OE), ability (AB), denial of responsibility (DR), personal norm (PN), pride emotion (PE), and guilt emotion (GE) all had significant effects (p ≤ 0.01) on farmers' water conservation behavior. Most importantly, the developed NAM increased the model's ability to explain farmers' water conservation behavior by 16.5% through incorporating EC variables. In the present study, EC was identified as the most important factor, so policymakers can emphasize it to promote safe water use behavior in agricultural environments.

Long-term water conservation is fostered by smart meter-based feedback and digital user engagement

Consumption-based feedback has been demonstrated to encourage water conservation behaviors. Smart meters and digital solutions can support customized feedback and reinforce behavioral change. Yet, most of the studies documenting water conservation effects induced by feedback and smart meter data visualization evaluate them in short-term experimental trials only. Here we show that water conservation behaviors promoted by smart meter-based consumption feedback and digital user engagement interventions might persist in the long term. We developed an analysis of 334 households in Valencia, Spain. We find that approximately 47% of the households engaged in our water conservation program achieved a long-term 8% reduction of volumetric water consumption, compared with pre-treatment observations. Water conservation behaviors persisted more than two years after the beginning of the program, especially for the households receiving sub-daily smart meter information. Our results provide empirical evidence that smart meter-based water consumption feedback and digital user engagement can effectively promote durable conservation behaviors.

Indoor water end-use pattern and its prospective determinants in the twin cities of Gujarat, India: Enabling targeted urban water management strategies

Water end-use studies disaggregate the quantity and frequency of water uses for various household purposes. Water end-use studies are available but none for India, which is gradually approaching a water-scarce condition from being a water-stressed country at present. This implies a need for incorporating water end-use understanding for augmenting urban recycling plans and strategies. To identify socio-demographic determinants of water end-use consumption for use in targeted urban water management, we focused on the indoor micro-components of bathing, dish-washing, laundering, and cleaning at households across the twin cities of Gujarat, a water-scarce province of India. A mixed-method approach was used for data collection in which questionnaire surveys (estimated or indirect measurements) were coupled with water meters (direct measurements) at households. The twin cities of Gujrat represent a spatial variation in greywater production at homes even at a distance of 30–40 km. Direct measurement showed less total average water consumption in Ahmedabad (83 L/HH/d) than Gandhinagar (105 L/HH/d), while indirect measurement showed indoor average consumption of 427 and 497 L/HH/d in the respective cities. Statistical significance of income, family size, and education was noticed on the water consumption pattern of a household. Besides, the study provides the attitude and practice of users towards water conservation behavior. We present new insights and recommendations for future urban water sustainability that are specific to India and applicable to several south-Asian countries.

How can socio-psychological factors be related to water-efficiency intention and behaviors among Iranian residential water consumers?

Water security while facing a growing water demand and decreasing supply has become a vital issue in urban areas, especially in arid and semi-arid regions. Considering households’ potential for significant water saving, residential water conservation has become the main component of the future sustainable water supply. To encourage households to engage in water conservation behaviors voluntarily, it is crucial to recognize and consider the socio-psychological factors influencing acceptance of such behaviors, including intention, normative aspects, and so on, because it can lead to the implementation of effective policies in urban water demand management. The main goal of the current research was to investigate the prerequisites and determinants of household water-efficiency intention and behaviors among Iranian citizens. To that end, the current research was based on the theory of planned behavior (TPB) and extended TPB by adding three new variables: moral norm, perceived risk, and familiarity to the theoretical framework. A questionnaire survey method (N = 820) was used to collect data from Tehran citizens. Structural equation modeling revealed that intention to adopt water-efficiency behaviors was predicted by attitude, perceived behavioral control (the most potent predictor), moral norm, perceived risk, and familiarity. Water-efficiency behaviors were predicted by intention, perceived behavioral control, and familiarity (the strongest determinant). Perceived risk was also a substantial determinant for attitude and moral norm. The findings indicated that both TPB and extended TPB frameworks are useful and practical tools for explaining the relationship between socio-psychological factors and water-efficiency intention and behaviors. Moreover, after the inclusion of the three new variables of moral norm, perceived risk, and familiarity in the original TPB, its predictive power for intention and behaviors increased up to 9% and 21%, respectively. According to the results, implications for improving and promoting water-efficiency intention and behaviors among households and suggestions for relevant future studies are proposed.

Advanced household profiling using digital water meters

Advanced householder profiling using digital water metering data analytics has been acknowledged as a core strategy for promoting water conservation because of its ability to provide near real-time feedback to customers and instil long-term conservation behaviours. Customer profiling based on household water consumption data collected through digital water meters helps to identify the water consumption patterns and habits of customers. This study employed advanced customer profiling techniques adapted from the machine learning research domain to analyse high-resolution data collected from residential digital water meters. Data analytics techniques were applied on already disaggregated end-use water consumption data (e.g., shower and taps) for creating in-depth customer profiling at various intervals (e.g., 15, 30, and 60 min). The developed user profiling approach has some learning functionality as it can ascertain and accommodate changing behaviours of residential customers. The developed advanced user profiling technique was shown to be beneficial since it identified residential customer behaviours that were previously unseen. Furthermore, the technique can identify and address novel changes in behaviours, which is an important feature for promoting and sustaining long-term water conservation behaviours. The research has implications for researchers in data analytics and water demand management, and also for practitioners and government policy advisors seeking to conserve valuable potable-water resources.

Human Dimensions of High Impact Water Conservation Behavior in Urban Areas: Factors that Explain Residents’ Intent to Reduce Irrigation in the Yard

Human Dimensions of High Impact Water Conservation Behavior in Urban Areas: Factors that Explain Residents’ Intent to Reduce Irrigation in the Yard

Social Capital & Water Conservation Behavior among University Students in Egypt

Water represents national security issue in Egypt due to population rising, agricultural expansion, industrial development and recently the construction of the Ethiopian Great Dam. Facing such communal issues is affected by the levels of social capital. The Egyptian government guaranteed water conservation by issuing laws to be officially implemented. This paper examines water conservation strategies as environmentally sustainable commitment of embracing new activities, gaining behavioral norms, and getting used to saving water as unrenewable resource for life. Social capital is the relationship in which individuals can obtain information, knowledge, and resources through social networks, shared norms and values, and trust. It required measuring the effect of people’s attitudes based on the above three categories and finding sound solutions involved changing water saving behaviors. The researchers explored how social capital standards could be carried out by Egyptian youth in an effective manner through conducting 400 questionnaires using 'convenience sample' distributing them among MSA university students measuring the relationship between social capital (individual engagement and participation) and water conservation behavior.The study found that horizontal social bonding and bridging between family and friends is stronger than vertical linkage of strangers and neighbors’ social networks among MSA students. There are weak ties within social capital networks which affect negatively the water conservation behavior. Results also showed that the impact of social capital in shared norms and values reveals less self-sustaining solutions regarding water saving behavior.Recommendations are concluded built on the fact that impact of TV and radio have great influence of more than the demographic orientation (home and friends) in strengthening water conservation behavior regarding sharing knowledge, purpose, and vision. Ironically, students expressed that they did not hear about water saving behavior from university, a fact that needs further initiatives.

Tourists’ water conservation behavior in hotels: the role of gender

Hotels and destination managers are increasingly expressing concern about the impacts of climate change and sustainable water use, especially in crowded and water-scarce destinations. The aim of this study is to examine gender differences in hotel guests’ reported water conservation behavior (WCB) when on vacation. The study examines several factors that can potentially affect these gender differences, namely attitudes toward water conservation, normative and hedonic motives, destination problem awareness, and destination attachment. Data from a sample of 680 hotel guests reveal significant gender differences, with specific factors affecting the WCB of guests of each gender. Attitudes exert a positive influence on guests’ WCB. This influence is greater for women than for men. Normative motives also positively influence attitudes, although this effect is greater for men than for women. Conversely, hedonic motives negatively influence water conservation attitudes, and this effect is greater for women than for men. Lastly, destination problem awareness positively influences normative motives, while destination attachment negatively influences hedonic motives. No gender effect is found for these relationships. The implications for research and practice in sustainable tourism and pro-environmental behavior are presented.

A Review on Water Conservation and Consumption Behavior: Leading Issues, Promoting Actions, and Managing the Policies.

A Review on Water Conservation and Consumption Behavior: Leading Issues, Promoting Actions, and Managing the Policies.

Considering Participants’ Personal Wellness in Conservation-Based Extension Programs: Opportunities for Integrative Development and Evaluation

Extension organizations are at the forefront of water resource issues, using educational programs to drive participant behaviors towards water conservation. The effectiveness of these efforts centers on designing programs with considerations of the factors that will change relevant decisions and behaviors among residential landscape water users. We conducted a statewide study to explore the concept of wellness and well-being, and these characteristics' relationship to water conservation behaviors. Our results show that psychosocial measures influence current and future residential landscape water conservation behaviors differently. Perception of well-being is the more consistent predictor for both current behaviors and future intentions. These results demonstrate an opportunity for those focused on environmental behaviors to pair and embed programs focused on personal well-being to empower communities to work toward achieving conservation goals.https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/wc370

Understanding in-room water conservation behavior: The role of personal normative motives and hedonic motives in a mass tourism destination

Water is a key resource in tourism destination management, especially in areas where water is scarce. Tourists' water consumption in hotels, especially in-room water use, is particularly relevant because of its magnitude and because it can be controlled by the tourists themselves. The present study therefore examines the underlying motives of tourists' in-room water conservation behavior using a sample of actual hotel guests at four-star hotels (n = 681) in the Spanish sun, sand, sea, and leisure tourist destination of Benidorm. Benidorm is one of the most important tourist destinations in the Mediterranean and is of great interest for studies of water consumption because it is located in an area of water scarcity. Building on goal-framing theory, this study shows that hedonic motives are more important than personal normative motives in relation to in-room water conservation behavior. The results also show that personal norms might be able to reduce the negative influence of hedonic motives on responsible water behavior. Furthermore, guests' outcome efficacy and local problem awareness are important factors in the norm activation process. The paper concludes by highlighting implications for the design of social marketing programs to reduce guests’ water consumption and discussing directions for future research in a hotel setting.

Influences of Building Characteristics and Attitudes on Water Conservation Behavior of Rural Residents

Urbanization promotes the development of human civilization but brings great challenges, such as air pollution, lack of water resources, and environmental damage, to the natural environment. Water conservation effectively alleviates the lack of water resources. Existing studies mostly focus on water conservation behavior in urban areas and overlook rural areas. This study takes rural residents in Chengdu as the research object and selects four villages to conduct empirical research and fill this research gap. A total of 165 valid questionnaires are collected after face-to-face interviews. First, descriptive analysis is used to analyze the current situation of rural residents’ water conservation behavior. Second, exploratory factor analysis and the binary logistic regression model are used to explore the relationship between building characteristics, water conservation attitudes, and water conservation behavior. The results show that (1) the rural residents’ water conservation attitude plays an important role in water conservation behavior; “environmental values” is the most significant factor, followed by “saving money and joint participation;” (2) rural building characteristics such as layout of the kitchen and shower facilities significantly affect the water conservation behavior of rural residents. Based on the analysis, several suggestions are made for building a new water-saving rural area in Chengdu, such as strengthening the publicity and education of water-saving behavior and subsidizing water-saving facilities. This research provides a theoretical basis for local government departments to formulate relevant policies and serves as a valuable reference for the protection of water resources in other rural areas.

The use of a bourdieusian “capitals” model for understanding farmer’s irrigation behavior in Iran

The objective of this paper is to empirically test the explanatory ability of cultural capital, which is generally considered more qualitatively and rarely quantified, for farmers’ water conservation behavior. In applying this approach, we reflect the growing interest in the role of culture and identity in influencing farmer’s decision-making. The study design involved a cross-sectional survey of growers in the Aleshtar county in Western Iran. The sample consisted of 360 farmers. The results of person correlation test showed significant relationships between all forms of cultural capital and both intention to behave and behavior. Furthermore, Structural Equation Model analysis revealed that the embodied and objective forms of capital predicted about 43% of the variance in farmers’ intention. Moreover, the institutionalised, objective, intension and family experiences predicted about 45% of the variance in farmers’ behavior. Based on the research results, recommendations for water conservation were provided.

Water conservation campaigns in an emerging economy: how effective are they?

The mounting pressure on fresh water resources encourages many government and commercial organizations to implement strategic water conservation communications campaigns globally, especially in emerging markets. However, empirical evidence supporting the effectiveness of these campaigns is limited. In the current research, I address this research opportunity by developing and empirically testing selected important individual differences and social characteristics as influences on water conservation campaign effectiveness. I randomly obtained survey data from 408 South African consumers. I rigorously assessed scale measurement properties using confirmatory factor analysis, and systematically assessed the theorized relations using structural equation modeling. The results show that conservation campaigns affect consumers’ planned and habitual water conservation behavior, and contribute to our understanding of factors affecting water conservation social marketing communications effectiveness in emerging markets.

Identidad ambiental, actitud y comportamiento de conservación de agua en una comunidad alto-andina del Perú

Se investigó la identidad ambiental, actitud y comportamiento de conservación de agua en habitantes de una comunidad altoandina de Perú (N=211) con el objetivo de determinar las relaciones entre ellas. se aplicó la escala de identidad ambiental y el cuestionario de actitudes y comportamientos de conservación de agua y se procedió a medir sus correlaciones. Se encontró una relación directa entre identidad ambiental, actitud y comportamiento de conservación de agua. La correlación más significativa se da entre identidad y comportamiento, en tanto las correlaciones entre identidad y actitud, actitud y comportamiento, son moderadas. Por otro lado, las dimensiones de la identidad ambiental muestran correlaciones significativas positivas, con la actitud, en tanto el comportamiento presenta correlaciones significativas con la autoidentificación, las emociones positivas y la relevancia de la identidad y la ideología. Nuestros hallazgos, indican que la identidad ambiental mantiene una relación sobre la actitud de conservación del agua. Se observó que, la identidad y/o conexión con la naturaleza motiva a proteger y actuar en favor de ella. Finalmente se discuten las implicancias del comportamiento proambiental sobre la identidad ambiental y la actitud para la conservación del agua.

Challenges of dehydration result in a behavioral shift in invasive toads

The adaptive nature of invasive species facilitates their survival in conditions that differ markedly from their native range. Behavioral changes in invasive populations are poorly explored but offer a wide potential when combined with physiological traits. For amphibians invading xeric habitats, finding water is important to function optimally and avoid dehydration. The water-finding hypothesis postulates that survival can be enhanced through the increased behavioral ability to find water. We tested the water-finding hypothesis in guttural toads (Sclerophrys gutturalis) from their native range and an invasive population. Additionally, we tested if artificially elevated corticosterone levels, which increase during dehydration, affect behavioral traits linked to water balance. In a labyrinth experiment, we observed the toads’ ability to find water in different hydration states (100%, 90%, and 80%). We found that individuals from the invasive population took longer to engage in water-searching behavior and spent more time close to the water source after finding it. Toads from the invasive population were also more active, and at 90% hydration, their attempts to find water increased. Moreover, artificially increasing corticosterone in fully hydrated invasive toads increased water-finding success. Our experiments demonstrated that invasive toads show water-conservation behaviors that can optimize water balance and might facilitate survival in an invaded xeric environment. Additionally, we suggest a link between elevated corticosterone levels and water-finding success. Our results lend support to the importance of behavior in successful invasions and the modulation of water-finding behavior by corticosterone. Invasion success is associated with behavioral and physiological adaptations of invasive species. For anuran species invading xeric habitats, the ability to find water is an important behavioral trait. Using a labyrinth experiment and toads (Sclerophrys gutturalis) dehydrated at different levels, we observed that individuals invading a hydric challenging habitat showed advantageous water-conservation behaviors (e.g., taking longer to engage in water-searching behavior and spent more time close to the water source after finding it) compared to toads from the native range. Transdermal treatment with corticosterone, a hormone that increases its plasma concentrations under dehydration, increased success of finding water in 100% hydrated animals. Our results indicate that, compared to the native population, invasive toads display water-conservation behaviors that might improve survival rates in a novel xeric environment and that experimental corticosterone elevation modulates this water-finding behavior.

Role of Trust in Adopting Consumer Social Responsible Behaviour in the Context of Water Use in Domestic Households

AbstractThe central theme in this article is Consumer Social Responsibility (CnSR) in the context of sustainable water consumption at home. In this paper, a conceptual SEM model will be tested based on the Theory of Planned Behaviour. This model focuses on the role of trust mediated by CnSR attitude, in influencing water conservation behaviour. Using a sample of 493 respondents, SEM analysis results show that trust in water companies and general trust disposition have significant effect on CnSR attitude. Attitude is approached via environmental, economic and social angle, covering three (triple) mentioned domains of sustainability each with an associated minimum (bottom) required level (line) also known as the Triple Bottom Line (TBL).

Farmers’ participatory-based water conservation behaviors: evidence from Iran

In recent years, Iran has been increasingly faced with severe water scarcity. In this regard, participation of farmers in water conservation activities is proposed as one of the major solutions to this problem. Despite extensive efforts to encourage water conservation activities among Iranian farmers, there are still no thorough knowledge and understanding of the determinants of their participatory-based water conservation behaviors (PBWCB). Accordingly, the present study makes an attempt to develop an appropriate theoretical framework using the norm activation theory (NAT) to analyze farmers’ PBWCB. For this purpose, a sample of 378 Iranian farmers is selected using stratified random sampling method. The results show that the variable of personal norms (as the main predictor of behavior in NAT) could predict a significant percentage (55.7%) of the variance in PBWCB. In addition, other variables, including ascription of responsibility, subjective norms, perceived ability, and awareness of consequences, explained 47.8% of its variance as the main determinants of personal moral/norms. Analysis of the total effects of three water conservation values (egoistic, altruistic, and biospheric values) also revealed that farmers’ PBWCBs are mostly affected by their underlying values. A number of practical recommendations were finally presented to facilitate the implications of the study results for water resource managers, policy-makers, and executives in relevant organizations.