Water Consumption Behavior Research Articles

Cape Town's “Day Zero” water crisis: A manufactured media event?

Day Zero was a purposefully designed narrative in political communication to change middle-class water consumption behaviour in a highly visible metropolitan context of persistent drought. As an “affective fact”, however it didn't so much elicit panic, but elicited a sense of fun and social solidarity in many.The unfeasibly precise prediction of water ‘running out’ the campaign obscured scientific uncertainties. In this context the contribution considers the role of ‘public’ scientists as highly visible authorities reinforcing or nuancing the Day Zero narrative. While the crisis narrative inevitably showed up rifts in South Africa's social fabric, and triggered protests against an underlying everyday crisis of water penury for marginalised urbanites.Our perspective is informed by documentary and press analysis, as well as a Focus Group Discussion with the South African National Press Club held on October 31, 2019.

Individual water consumption behavior in relation to urban residential dynamics: The Case of Qatar

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to analyze different human behavioral components and the data collected from several households regarding their water consumption to fathom public demeanor better and underscore the need for efficacious governmental strategies. To investigate this phenomenon, we mapped the human behavioral components with a view to evaluating water consumption in Qatar. These included four primary household components, namely: the socio-demographic data, behavioral water consumption, attitudes toward water conservation and environmental consciousness, and the actual water consumption. We combined this information with typical households’ socio-demographic characteristics and their monthly water consumption in each household. The results obtained demonstrated a need for behavioral interventions through awareness-raising campaigns and sensitization after the first three months to reiterate and accentuate the importance of water conservation. Furthermore, the study also demonstrated that awareness-raising campaigns alone would not decrease the water consumption rate.

Perceptions of water quality, and current and future water consumption of residents in the central business district of Yangon city Myanmar

Abstract Public water supply services in Yangon started in 1842, however the practice of drinking tap water has been uncommon until this moment. Currently, Yangon city development committee is upgrading the tap water system in accordance with the greater Yangon water supply improvement project. It is important to know the perceptual driving factors affecting the decision to drink in order to effectively improve the public acceptance of tap water. In this study, household water management practices and their influencing factors for Yangon city residents are revealed through questionnaires. Residence time in Yangon city is significantly associated with water consumption behaviour. Decisions for drinking come from organoleptic perception rather than important safety considerations. The future consumption of tap water is influenced by income and perception of overall quality. Preferred billing method is associated with education, family size, income and willingness to spend more for better quality water.

Cumulative effect and subchronic toxicity of the supramolecular complex of fenbendazole

The purpose of the researchis to study the cumulative effect and subchronic toxicity of supramolecular complex of fenbendazole (SMCF).Materials and methods.The cumulative effect of SMCF was studied on 20 outbred white rats weighing 180 g that were divided into experimental and control groups of 10 animals each. SMCF was administered intragastrically to rats of the experimental groups for 24 days at the dose of 2000 mg/kg (1/10 of the previously established single LD50 (20000 mg/kg)) on the first day, then the dose was increased by 1.5 times every four day. The main criterion for evaluation of the results was the death of animals; we also observed the overall condition and behavior of rats. Subchronic toxicity was studied on 40 male white rats weighing 220–240 g. The animals were divided into 4 equal groups. The drug was administered daily to rats of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd experimental groups intragastrically using the doses of 1/5 (4000 mg/kg), 1/10 (2000 mg/ kg) and 1/20 (1000 mg/kg) of LD50 (20000 mg/kg) respectively for 7 days. The control group received 1% starch paste in an appropriate volume throughout the experiment. During the experiment, we observed physical signs and behavior of animals, food and water consumption; weight gains of animals on the 1st, 3rd, 5th and 7th days of the experiment. After the drug administration, animals were sacrificed by cervical dislocation. The laboratory examinations for hematological parameters and biochemical parameters were performed after treatment. Samples of organs (liver, heart, lungs, kidneys, spleen) were taken during necropsy to calculate mass coefficients and to make macroscopic examinations.Results and discussion. We found that the SMCF did not have any cumulative properties. The overall condition and behavior of rats was within the physiological range; animals consumed food and water and showed no signs of intoxication after oral administration of SMCF at doses of 1/5, 1/10 and 1/20 of LD50 for 7 days. The drug did not have influence on weight gains of animals. Hematological and biochemical parameters did not undergo significant changes and were comparable with the parameters of the control group. The mass coefficients of the internal organs did not differ statistically in experimental and control groups of rats.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on water consumption behaviour

Abstract Access to drinking water is essential for life, and an adequate and constant distribution of water is necessary during the occurrence of contagious diseases and pandemic situations. Currently, COVID-19, caused by the SARS-COV-2 coronavirus, has spread throughout the world, and in Brazil, more than 5,300,000 cases and 157,000 deaths had been reported by 26th October 2020. Water is regarded as one of the most important resources in a pandemic, in order to provide the necessary sanitary conditions. Thus, the present study aims to analyse changes in hygiene behaviour in relation to the recommendations of the World Health Organisation and the impact on water consumption before and during the pandemic. The survey was conducted using a questionnaire, which was delivered online to 149 participants between June and July 2020. The results pointed to changes in hygiene behaviour, with a consequent effect on water consumption.

Influence of Service Levels and COVID-19 on Water Supply Inequalities of Community-Managed Service Providers in Nepal

In Nepal, there are three types of water service providers; two types of government-managed service providers covering urban and municipal areas, and community-managed service providers called Water Users and Sanitation Associations (WUSAs). This study aims to assess the current water supply service levels and water supply inequalities of WUSAs in terms of water consumption, supply hours, and customer satisfaction. Among the three types of water service providers, WUSAs offered the best performance in terms of their low non-revenue water (NRW) rates and production costs, high bill collection rates, and long supply hours. During the COVID-19 lockdown, water consumption increased, but bill payment notably decreased, possibly due to restricted movement and hesitation by customers to make payments. The multiple-year water consumption variations illustrated the uneven water consumption behavior of customers. Despite the variation in water supply hours, Lorenz curves, Gini coefficients (G), and water consumption analysis depicted low inequalities (G ≈ 0.20–0.28) and adequate water consumption among WUSAs even in 2019–2020. In the three WUSAs, more than 90%, 74%, and 38% of customers consumed water above the basic, medium, and high levels, respectively. Thus, maintaining high service levels of WUSAs is instrumental in achieving Goal 6 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Nepal.

Acute Oral Toxicity of a Novel Functional Drink base on Ecuadorian Plant Species

A novel functional drink with nutraceutical properties was formulated from the aqueous extracts of Ilex guayusa, and Vernonanthura patens leaves, and cocoa husks. This combination presents bioactive compounds, such as phenolic compounds, with antioxidant properties of pharmacological interest. However, it is known that the interaction of herbal extracts compounds may cause adverse toxic effects on human health. To evaluate this functional drink's innocuity, we estimated the acute oral toxicity in experimental mice. The toxicological study was carried out following the FASEB Statement of Principles for the Use of Animals in Research and Education. Female albino mice were treated with a single oral dose (2000 mg/kg of body weight) of the aqueous extract of the functional drink's two formulations. In addition, changes in behavior, body weight, food and water consumption, and histopathological studies were evaluated. No signs of adverse toxicity and mortality were observed after a single oral dose of 2000 mg/kg b.w. Likewise, there were no significant body and organ weight changes, food and water consumption behavior, and no histopathological changes were observed in the main organs evaluated. In conclusion, this functional drink can be categorized as “non-toxic,” according to the Globally Harmonized Classification System (GHS), making it a potent antioxidant beverage with high nutritional value.

Supporting Sustainable Rural Groundwater Demand Management with Fuzzy Decision Analysis: A Case Study in Iran

Insufficient clean freshwater has become a growing concern for sustainable development in countries with arid and semi-arid regions. Co-production of knowledge through active communication of experts, government, and local stakeholders can serve as a strategy to cope with water scarcity. Water consumption behavior is a key component of water resource management. This study aims to understand water consumption factors and behavior in a rural area with arid conditions. The study is a mixed-method one conducted through fuzzy decision analysis (i.e., selecting criteria with Fuzzy Delphi and rating them with Fuzzy Analytic Network Process). An empirical case study was conducted on the Akramieh rural area located in Yazd Province, Iran. The results indicate that a change in consumers' culture can have a significant effect in reducing water consumption. Recommendations have been made to encourage the adaptation of farming families to water scarcity. Through public schools and mosques, people can become aware of the conditions and consequences of drought as a crisis, and alternative methods of irrigation can be taught to farmers.

A Smart Sensing System of Water Quality and Intake Monitoring for Livestock and Wild Animals.

This paper presents a water intake monitoring system for animal agriculture that tracks individual animal watering behavior, water quality, and water consumption. The system is deployed in an outdoor environment to reach remote areas. The proposed system integrates motion detectors, cameras, water level sensors, flow meters, Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) systems, and water temperature sensors. The data collection and control are performed using Arduino microcontrollers with custom-designed circuit boards. The data associated with each drinking event are water consumption, water temperature, drinking duration, animal identification, and pictures. The data and pictures are automatically stored on Secure Digital (SD) cards. The prototypes are deployed in a remote grazing site located in Tucumcari, New Mexico, USA. The system can be used to perform water consumption and watering behavior studies of both domestic animals and wild animals. The current system automatically records the drinking behavior of 29 cows in a two-week duration in the remote ranch.

Reusing wastewater for agricultural irrigation: a water-energy-food Nexus assessment in the North Western Sahara Aquifer System

The North Western Sahara Aquifer System stands out as one of the water scarcest regions in the world. Moreover, in recent decades agriculture activity has grown exacerbating the pressure on groundwater resources and pumping energy requirements. In this study, a water-energy-food Nexus approach was used to assess the effect of capturing, treating and reusing wastewater for irrigation. GIS-based tools were used to capture the systems spatial dimension, enabling to match wastewater supply and water demand points, identify demand hotspots and evaluate techno-economically viable wastewater treatment options. Moreover, the minimum energy requirements for brackish water desalination were estimated. Seven domestic wastewater treatment technologies and one irrigation tailwater treatment technology were evaluated, making use of a levelized cost of Water methodology to identify the least-cost system. Four scenarios were constructed based on water-consumption behaviour of farmers towards changes in irrigation water pricing. The identified least-cost wastewater treatment technologies showed clear trade-offs, as different technologies were more cost-effective depending on treatment capacity requirements of the spatially distributed agglomerations. The reuse of treated wastewater/tailwater in agricultural irrigation, showed improvement of groundwater stress, reducing on about 49% water abstractions and groundwater stress levels in the best case scenario. However, groundwater stress still fell on the extremely high category, highlighting the critical condition of the aquifer. Furthermore, reuse of wastewater/tailwater decreased dependency on groundwater pumping and the overall energy-for-water requirements, reducing by about 15% the total energy requirements in the best case scenario. However, to effectively preserve water resources and act holistically towards the sustainable development agenda, measures as better water pricing mechanisms, management strategies to improve water productivity and adoption of more efficient irrigation schemes may be needed.

Evaluation of the activity of antioxidant enzymes during chronic oral administration of a technical product derived from triazoles in the rats

Introduction. Entering the body in various ways, pesticides, being biologically highly active compounds, can pose a real danger to public health, causing changes in non-specific biochemical reactions of metabolism occurring in all living cells. The antioxidant system, represented as a balance of lipid peroxidation and antioxidant protection (POL - AOZ), is one of the metabolic regulatory mechanisms of these responses. The aim of the study was to study the effect of a technical product (TP), a derivative of triazoles, on the acti-vity of antioxidant enzymes in the rat body, under its repeated oral intake in a chronic 12-month experiment. Material and methods. A chronic (12 months) experiment was performed on male rats with a bodyweight of 200-210 g at the beginning of the study. Tested doses: 5.0, 16.0 and 55.0 mg/kg of body weight (1 control and 3 experimental groups, 20 individuals each). In the dynamics of the experiment, after 1, 3, 6 and 12 months, the state and behavior of animals, water and food consumption were observed. Changes in the enzymatic indices of the body’s antioxidant defense system (superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase) were registered. Results. It was found that TP at a dose of 5.0 mg/kg of body weight does not cause significant changes in the activity of antioxidant enzymes, doses of 16.0 and 55.0 mg/kg of body weight cause an increase in the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and a decrease in the activity of catalase in the body of experimental animals compared to control animals. Discussion. In the conducted chronic experiment, it was found that the studied TP at a dose of 5.0 mg/kg of body weight does not cause significant changes in the activity of the studied antioxidant enzymes in the body of rats. The introduction of TP at doses of 16.0 and 55.0 mg/kg of body weight causes a significant change in the activity of such antioxidant enzymes as SOD and catalase. Our results are consistent with the literature data, according to which the cell quickly reacts to oxidative stress by increasing the activity of SOD, and SOD is considered even as a stress protein synthesized in response to oxidative stress. Conclusions. The conducted research shows the feasibility of studying antioxidant enzymes’ activity in the mammalian body in sanitary and toxicological studies to increase the reliability of the developed hygienic standards of xenobiotics in environmental objects and food products.

Exploring the Effectiveness of Clustering Algorithms for Capturing Water Consumption Behavior at Household Level

As water scarcity becomes more prevalent, the analysis of urban water consumption patterns at the consumer level and the estimation of the corresponding water demand for water utility are expected to be among the top priorities of water companies in the near future. This study proposes a comprehensive methodology for water managers to achieve an efficient operation of urban water networks, by successfully detecting residential water consumption patterns corresponding to different household needs and behaviors. The methodology uses Self Organizing Maps as the main clustering algorithm in combination with K-means and Hierarchical Agglomerative Clustering. The objective is to create clusters in a literature dataset that includes water consumption from 21 customers located in Milford, Ohio, USA, for a 7-month period. Originally, water consumption data was recorded for every water use incident in the household, while for this analysis, the information is converted to half-hourly water consumption. Individual customers with similar consumption behavior are clustered and water-consumption curves are calculated for each cluster; these curves can be used by the water utility to obtain estimates of the spatio-temporal distribution of demand, thus giving insight into peak demands at different locations. Statistical indices of agreement are used to confirm a good agreement between the estimated and observed water use, when clustering is employed. The resulting curves show a clear improvement in capturing water consumption behavior at household level, when compared to corresponding curves obtained without clustering. This analysis offers water utilities an innovative solution that relies on real time data and uses data science principles for optimizing water supply and network operation and provides tools for the efficient use of water resources.

Reduction potential of potable water consumption at urban households: a case study in Sri Lanka

Availability of usable water resources in the Asiatic region is becoming scarce at a rapid phase, as consequences of urbanization and climate change. Therefore, saving drinkable water is an unarguably essential sustainable measure. This paper presents a case study done on domestic water-saving potential in urbanized areas of the western province in Sri Lanka. The study approached a mixed methodology. Randomly selected and stratified 342 residents participated in a semi-structured questionnaire survey which was conducted online and at the field. Qualitative and quantitative data on sociodemographics, water consumption and water-related behaviours, attitudes and awareness were gathered. Correlation–regression analysis was performed by using SPSS software. A mathematical model to forecast regular and optimized water consumption was derived. The water-saving potential was computed by subtracting the optimized consumption from regular water consumption. Results of the study indicated that the water-saving potential on average was 30%, which accounted for a substantial saving of resources used for supplying potable water to the urban households, from transboundary water resources. Ten experts in the water sector in the country were interviewed and six of them were given a special type of questionnaire based on analytical hierarchy process method, on water consumer's decision-making, in selecting a water-saving option, from given three options. Respondents used 55.2% criteria weightage in selecting rainwater harvesting as a feasible method in reducing potable water consumption, which was significant for an urban setting.

Implications of Experiment Set-Ups for Residential Water End-Use Classification

With an increasing need for secured water supply, a better understanding of the water consumption behavior is beneficial. This can be achieved through end-use classification, i.e., identifying end-uses such as toilets, showers or dishwashers from water consumption data. Previously, both supervised and unsupervised machine learning (ML) techniques are employed, demonstrating accurate classification results on particular datasets. However, a comprehensive comparison of ML techniques on a common dataset is still missing. Hence, in this study, we are aiming at a quantitative evaluation of various ML techniques on a common dataset. For this purpose, a stochastic water consumption simulation tool with high capability to model the real-world water consumption pattern is applied to generate residential data. Subsequently, unsupervised clustering methods, such as dynamic time warping, k-means, DBSCAN, OPTICS and Hough transform, are compared to supervised methods based on SVM. The quantitative results demonstrate that supervised approaches are capable to classify common residential end-uses (toilet, shower, faucet, dishwasher, washing machine, bathtub and mixed water-uses) with accuracies up to 0.99, whereas unsupervised methods fail to detect those consumption categories. In conclusion, clustering techniques alone are not suitable to separate end-use categories fully automatically. Hence, accurate labels are essential for the end-use classification of water events, where crowdsourcing and citizen science approaches pose feasible solutions for this purpose.

Acute oral toxicity of a novel functional drink based on Ilex guayusa, Vernonanthura patens, and cocoa husk.

A novel functional drink with nutraceutical properties was formulated from the aqueous extracts of Ilex guayusa, and Vernonanthura patens leaves, and cocoa husks. This juice contains various bioactive compounds, such as phenolic compounds and methylxanthines, with antioxidant and stimulant properties of pharmacological interest. However, it is known whether herbal extracts' interaction may have adverse toxic effects on human health. To evaluate this functional drink's innocuity, we estimated the acute oral toxicity (AOT) in experimental mice. This paper presents the AOT evaluation of two formulations of a functional drink (pre-formulation and microencapsulation) at a single dose of 2000 mg/kg of body weight (b.w.). No signs of adverse toxicity and mortality were observed after a single oral dose of 2000 mg/kg b.w. Likewise, no significant body and organ weight changes, food and water consumption behavior, and no histopathological changes were observed in the main organs evaluated. In conclusion, this functional drink can be categorized as low toxicity " according to the Globally Harmonized Classification System (GHS), making it a potential beverage with high nutritional and pharmacological value.

Toxicity assessment of a technical product of the triazole class

Introduction. Historically, pesticides are evaluated more strictly from a medical point of view than other chemicals. Since their features, such as deliberate introduction into the environment, the possibility of contact with them by large masses of the population, and the high biological activity determine their potential danger to humans. Purpose of research - study of the biological effect of a technical product derived from triazoles when it is repeatedly ingested orally in mammals (rats), establishment of inactive and active doses, justification of the permissible daily dose (DSD) for humans. Material and methods. In acute experiments, white rats were used, including 6 animals in the group. Tested dose: 500-4000 mg/kg of body weight. A chronic (12 months) experiment was performed on 80 male rats with a bodyweight of 180-190 g at the beginning of the study. Tested doses: 5.0; 16.0 and 55.0 mg/kg of body weight (1 control and 3 experimental animals, 20 individuals each). In the dynamics of the experiment, we observed the condition and behavior of animals, water, and food consumption, recorded the timing of death, changes in body weight, physiological, biochemical, and hematological indices. Results. Indices of the acute oral toxicity on the studied product LD50 male rats were 2250 ± 483 mg/kg body weight. The dose of 5.0 mg / kg of body weight was not found to cause significant changes in all studied indices. The doses of 16.0 and 55.0 mg/kg of body weight had a polytropic effect on the body in experimental animals. Discussion. The studied product for the acute oral toxicity refers to low-hazard compounds, the doses of 16.0 and 55.0 mg/kg of body weight has a polytropic effect on the mammalian body, causing changes in carbohydrate, lipid, and lipoprotein metabolism in the body of rats - was accepted as acting. The dose of 5.0 mg / kg of body weight, when administered in rats, there are no changes in all the studied parameters throughout the experiment, is accepted as invalid. Based on the inactive dose-5.0 mg/kg of body weight and taking into account the reserve factor of 100, we have scientifically justified DSD for a person at the level of 0.05 mg/kg. Summary. The conducted sanitary and Toxicological studies indicate the need to assess the toxicity of new technical products to the mammalian body, to increase the reliability of the developed hygiene standards in environmental objects and food products.

Water footprint assessment for citizens in Ho Chi Minh city

The research conducted a survey of the water consumption in Ho Chi Minh City through the consumption of products from agriculture, industry and domestic. The research identified green water, blue water and grey water footprints in consuming products. Then personal water footprints were calculated and evaluated. The results showed that the average personal water footprint in district 3 was 1556 m3/year (77.15% for agriculture, 15.59% for industry and 7.26% for domestic), district 10 was 1587 m3/year (77.58% for agriculture, 15.17% for industry and 7.25% domestic), Nha Be district is 1681 m3/year (80.48% for agriculture, 12.97% for industry and 6.55% for domestic) and Binh Chanh district was 1744 m3/year (81.57% for agriculture, 11.88% for industry and 6.55% for domestic). In the individual components of the water footprint, water footprints in consuming agricultural products accounted for the major percentage and determined the personal water footprint. The results showed that the individual water footprints in countryside areas were higher than those in urban areas. Depending on the amount and forms of each individual's consumption, their eating habit and daily activities, and the sexes, the personal water footprints were different. The perception and behavior of individuals' water consumption also significantly influenced the overall personal water footprints.

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.

Studying of the remote effects of the action on the organism of rats of the compaund from the class benzothiadiazinones

Introduction. Currently, many xenobiotics are widely used in industry and agriculture, which can cause serious disorders of pregnancy and fetal development. In this regard, the study of the effect of pesticides on embryogenesis in experiments on laboratory animals is a mandatory stage of sanitary and Toxicological research. The aim of the study was to investigate the long-term effects of a compound of the class of benzothiadiazinones for the assessment of embryotoxic and teratogenic effects, as well as reproductive toxicity by the method of two generations, with repeated oral intake of it into the body of warm-blooded animals (rats), establishing the levels of inactive doses for parents and offspring, and determining the hazard class. Material and methods. The embryotoxic and teratogenic effects were evaluated in female and male rats with a bodyweight of 230-240 g at the beginning of the study. Tested doses: 40.0; 100.0 and 250.0 mg / kg body weight (1 control and 3 experimental groups, 15 individuals each). Mating of females was performed with intact males in a ratio of 2:1. the Compound was introduced during 20 days of pregnancy. In the dynamics of the experiment, the state and behavior of rats, water and feed consumption, and changes in body weight were observed. The analysis of embryonic material took into account: the absolute and relative mass of internal organs (thymus, heart, lungs, liver, kidneys), to determine the teratogenic effect, a group of fruits (1/3) was fixed in Buena fluid and used to study internal organs using the Wilson method modified by Dyban the remaining 1/3 of the fetuses was fixed in ethanol to study the state of the skeleton using the Dawson method. When studying the reproductive toxicity of benzothiadiazinones in mammals (rats) using the method of two generations at doses of 15.0; 50.0 and 200.0 mg/kg of body weight (1 control and 3 experimental groups, 20 individuals each). Female F0 of the parent generation was primed during the mating period, pregnancy, and continued until the end of the feeding of the F2 generation. Mating 2:1. Results. Based on the results of studying the embryotoxic and teratogenic effects, invalid doses were established at the following levels: Noel for the mother - 100.0 mg/kg of body weight; Noel for embryotoxicity - 100.0 mg/kg of body weight; NOEL for teratogenicity-100.0 mg/kg of body weight. Results on the study of reproductive activity: NOEL for parents and offspring-50.0 mg/kg of body weight. Discussion. Studies on the effects of a long-term action of a technical product - “generic”, belonging to the class of benzothiadiazinones, found the studied compound for teratogenic, embryotoxic effects, as well as for its effect on reproductive toxicity, in accordance with the hygienic classification of pesticides by hazard (SanPiN 1.2.2584-10)to be a moderately dangerous compound (hazard class 3). Studied product class benzothiadiazinones on toxicological parameters are identical with the technical product is “originator”. Conclusion. Thus, the research shows that it is necessary to study the effects of long-term action of xenobiotics on the mammalian body when conducting sanitary and toxicological studies, to increase the reliability of the developed hygiene standards in environmental objects and food products.

Water Scarcity Communication in the UK: Learning From Water Company Communications Following the 2018 Heatwave

When communicating about water scarcity, public water companies in the UK operate within a fine balance. There is a legal obligation on water companies in the UK to promote efficient water use, and pressure on water resources means that water companies need to encourage changes in water consumption behaviors. However, there is a lack of information about the way UK water companies communicate with the public. This paper presents the results of research into UK water company practices and perceptions in engaging consumers around water scarcity and water saving and discusses what this means for water scarcity communication. Interviews with 10 water company communication teams (14 interviewees) following the 2018 UK heatwave explored opportunities, innovations and challenges in public communication. Interviewees recognized the need for an ongoing conversation about water in the UK and identified a number of practices which could support a change in public water consumption. The results highlight the perceived importance of trust, timing and community- or group-scale communications, and the need for a cross-sectoral and intergenerational approach to public communication about water resources. This research examines some of the current underlying assumptions of water companies about what influences public water consumption in the UK and offers insights into some of the key challenges and opportunities for the future.