Influencing domestic water use behaviour to target long-term water conservation

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Water Use ◽  
Water Conservation ◽  
Domestic Water

Household water use: a Portuguese field study

2007 ◽  
Vol 7 (5-6) ◽  
pp. 193-202 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Vieira ◽  
M. do C. Almeida ◽  
J.M. Baptista ◽  
R. Ribeiro
Keyword(s):  
Field Study ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Water Consumption ◽  
Water Conservation ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Domestic Water ◽  
Household Water ◽  
Main Components ◽  
Definition Of

Household water use structure can vary significantly depending on several factors like personal habits, socio-economic, cultural and climatic conditions. In the absence of Portuguese data on domestic water consumption, a field study was carried out in order to obtain information that could help support the definition of water conservation measures within the scope of the Portuguese National Program for the Efficient Use of Water. The paper describes the methodology and results obtained in this study, which involved approximately 100 participants that made a characterization of their appliances and detailed recordings of all water uses. Results allowed for the determination of average values of usage duration and frequency for each appliance, total volume consumed per water appliance and per capita water consumption. In terms of consumption structure, it was found that showering and bathing were the main components (36±13%) followed by taps (29±10%) and toilet flushing (21±7%).

Prehistoric Reservoirs and Water Basins in the Mesa Verde Region: Intensification of Water Collection Strategies during the Great Pueblo Period

1997 ◽  
Vol 62 (4) ◽  
pp. 664-681 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard H. Wilshusen ◽  
Melissa J. Churchill ◽  
James M. Potter
Keyword(s):  
Water Conservation ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
American Southwest ◽  
Conservation Strategies ◽  
Domestic Water ◽  
Mesa Verde ◽  
Temporal Placement ◽  
Collection Strategies ◽  
Mesa Verde Region

More than 20 examples of probable prehistoric water basins with minimum storage capacities of 10,000–25,000 gallons of water are known in the Mesa Verde region of the American Southwest. The temporal placement of these artificially constructed basins, their exact uses, and their importance as public architecture have been poorly understood. We summarize the general literature on these features, give a detailed account of the excavation results of a dam and basin that we tested and dated, and then synthesize all available data from the gray literature on prehistoric water basins in our area. We argue that water basins and reservoirs in the northern Southwest typically stored domestic water for particular communities and that the first evidence of these public features is probably associated with Chaco-era communities. These features represent early experiments with large-scale water conservation and suggest a long-term commitment to locales by specific communities. Their locations along the canyon edges foreshadow shifts in settlement and increased water conservation strategies that become more pronounced in the later Great Pueblo-period villages-the last villages in this area before the migration of Puebloan people to the south after A.D. 1280.

scholarly journals Sustainable Water Use Practices: Understanding and Awareness of Masters Level Students

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (19) ◽  
pp. 10499
Author(s):  
Dexter V. L. Hunt ◽  
Zeerak Shahab
Keyword(s):  
Water Use ◽  
Water Consumption ◽  
Water Conservation ◽  
Social Practice ◽  
User Behavior ◽  
Theoretical Models ◽  
Domestic Water ◽  
Environmental Pressures ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Water Use Practices

Present water consumption in the UK is unsustainable, with increasing societal and environmental pressures driving water stress. Personal use of water is a significant contributor to water demand and considering the number of universities and students in the UK the water use practices therein cannot be ignored. Therefore, this paper aims to deepen the theme of water consumption in the United Kingdom from the point of view of use practices for students. The originality in this research lies in better understanding whether UK Masters level students have a basic awareness of personal water consumption and water pricing and whether they have a preferred approach to reducing their water consumption—through a behavioral change, or through adoption of technologies. Through use of a questionnaire approach applied to five cohorts (2017 to 2021) of Masters level students, the level of understanding and awareness towards their own domestic water use both now and in the future was demonstrated. Key findings suggest that Masters students underestimated their water use by 76% compared to the average UK national range and that there was an overall preference to adopt water saving technologies rather than changing user behavior (40% vs. 27%). The study concludes that it is important to approach water conservation from an SPT perspective in order to achieve meaningful change in water use practices. Qualitative and quantitative research is analyzed in light of theoretical models (i.e., Social Practice and Attitude Behavior Framework ABC) in order to make recommendations for greater societal prominence for this issue through media and education.

Drawers of Water II: assessing change in domestic water use in East Africa

Waterlines ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 22-25 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Thompson ◽  
Ina Porras ◽  
Munguti Katui-Katua ◽  
Mark Mujwahuzi ◽  
James Tumwine
Keyword(s):  
East Africa ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Domestic Water

The implications of climate change on residential water use: a micro-scale analysis of Portland (OR), USA

2012 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 225-238 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vivek Shandas ◽  
Meenakshi Rao ◽  
Moriah McSharry McGrath
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Water Conservation ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Future Climate ◽  
Metropolitan Region ◽  
Study Region ◽  
Residential Water Use ◽  
Residential Water

Social and behavioral research is crucial for securing environmental sustainability and improving human living environments. Although the majority of people now live in urban areas, we have limited empirical evidence of the anticipated behavioral response to climate change. Using empirical data on daily household residential water use and temperature, our research examines the implications of future climate conditions on water conservation behavior in 501 households within the Portland (OR) metropolitan region. We ask whether and how much change in ambient temperatures impact residential household water use, while controlling for taxlot characteristics. Based on our results, we develop a spatially explicit description about the changes in future water use for the study region using a downscaled future climate scenario. The results suggest that behavioral responses are mediated by an interaction of household structural attributes, and magnitude and temporal variability of weather parameters. These findings have implications for the way natural resource managers and planning bureaus prepare for and adapt to future consequences of climate change.

Water Requirements and Conservation Alternatives for Northern Communities

1983 ◽  
Vol 15 (S2) ◽  
pp. 65-93 ◽  
Author(s):  
B C Armstrong ◽  
D W Smith ◽  
J J Cameron
Keyword(s):  
Water Use ◽  
Water Conservation ◽  
Basic Needs ◽  
Economic Aspects ◽  
Water Requirements ◽  
Rate Structure ◽  
Individual Household

This paper reviews water requirements and the alternatives for water conservation in small, relatively remote northern communities. Requirements are examined in terms of basic needs and desires for sanitation from an individual household and a community perspective. Presented are factors which influence water use such as the method of delivery, household plumbing, socio-economic aspects, rate structure, climate and plumbing codes. Similarly, factors which influence water conservation are identified. Outlined in detail are current methods of reducing water use within the northern household.

scholarly journals Overexpression of MdATG8i improves water use efficiency in transgenic apple by modulating photosynthesis, osmotic balance, and autophagic activity under moderate water deficit

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xin Jia ◽  
Ke Mao ◽  
Ping Wang ◽  
Yu Wang ◽  
Xumei Jia ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Use Efficiency ◽  
Water Deficit ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Photosynthetic Capacity ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Drought Conditions ◽  
Moderate Drought ◽  
Use Efficiency ◽  
Autophagic Activity

AbstractWater deficit is one of the major limiting factors for apple (Malus domestica) production on the Loess Plateau, a major apple cultivation area in China. The identification of genes related to the regulation of water use efficiency (WUE) is a crucial aspect of crop breeding programs. As a conserved degradation and recycling mechanism in eukaryotes, autophagy has been reported to participate in various stress responses. However, the relationship between autophagy and WUE regulation has not been explored. We have shown that a crucial autophagy protein in apple, MdATG8i, plays a role in improving salt tolerance. Here, we explored its biological function in response to long-term moderate drought stress. The results showed that MdATG8i-overexpressing (MdATG8i-OE) apple plants exhibited higher WUE than wild-type (WT) plants under long-term moderate drought conditions. Plant WUE can be increased by improving photosynthetic efficiency. Osmoregulation plays a critical role in plant stress resistance and adaptation. Under long-term drought conditions, the photosynthetic capacity and accumulation of sugar and amino acids were higher in MdATG8i-OE plants than in WT plants. The increased photosynthetic capacity in the OE plants could be attributed to their ability to maintain optimal stomatal aperture, organized chloroplasts, and strong antioxidant activity. MdATG8i overexpression also promoted autophagic activity, which was likely related to the changes described above. In summary, our results demonstrate that MdATG8i-OE apple lines exhibited higher WUE than WT under long-term moderate drought conditions because they maintained robust photosynthesis, effective osmotic adjustment processes, and strong autophagic activity.

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