Outdoor water use and water conservation opportunities in Virginia Beach, Virginia

Uncertain future availability of water is one of the most critical current issues, and outdoor water use contributes substantially to the strain on water resources. Much of the nation’s outdoor water use is through urban landscape irrigation, and one solution for conservation of this limited resource is to change home landscape irrigation practices. Thus, households that use landscape irrigation are an important audience for Florida extension programs. Complex, statewide water conservation programs are difficult to evaluate because of program variability and limited resources, yet evaluation is an important task that reveals the success, or failure, of a program. This study compared factors between people who have or have not engaged in Florida extension programs. The targeting outcomes of programs model and theory of planned behavior were used as a basis for measuring different levels of possible outcomes. There were no differences in attitudes toward good irrigation practices and perceived ability to adopt them between extension participants and nonparticipants. There were differences between the two groups in perceived normative attitudes, intent to adopt good irrigation practices, and actual engagement in landscape water conservation practices. Findings demonstrate a relationship exists between these characteristics and engagement with extension. The greatest differences were stronger social norms and more engagement in complex conservation behaviors among people who had attended extension programs. It is not known how much externalities play a role in leading certain people to seek out extension education. Extension professionals should use the findings of this study to target nonparticipants and deliver more impactful programs.

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

Journal of Water and Climate Change ◽

10.2166/wcc.2011.024 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 3 (3) ◽

pp. 225-238 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

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.

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Water Requirements and Conservation Alternatives for Northern Communities

Water Science & Technology ◽

10.2166/wst.1983.0202 ◽

1983 ◽

Vol 15 (S2) ◽

pp. 65-93 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

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.

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21. Crop water use and water conservation benefits from windbreaks

Agriculture Ecosystems & Environment ◽

10.1016/0167-8809(88)90033-3 ◽

1988 ◽

Vol 22-23 ◽

pp. 381-392 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Gylan L. Dickey

Keyword(s):

Water Use ◽

Water Conservation ◽

Crop Water ◽

Crop Water Use

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Improving efficiency in water use and conservation in Spanish hotels

Water Science & Technology Water Supply ◽

10.2166/ws.2005.0109 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 5 (3-4) ◽

pp. 273-279 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

R. Cobacho ◽

F. Arregui ◽

J.C. Parra ◽

E. Cabrera

Keyword(s):

Water Management ◽

Water Use ◽

Water Conservation ◽

Fundamental Component ◽

Conservation Actions ◽

Water Scarce

Hotels are a fundamental component within the tourist Spanish sector, and their role in water management turns out even more relevant taking into account the fact that tourist areas, in which they are generally located, are water scarce. Trying to go further from the standard ratios and estimations to plan water conservation, this work intends to really measure and quantify water use in rooms. Only by doing this, can subsequent conservation actions, now able to be reliably specified for each specific use, achieve a real success.

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Impact assessment of climate change and human activities on GHG emissions and agricultural water use

10.5194/egusphere-egu21-57 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Shikun Sun ◽

Yihe Tang

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Water Use ◽

Water Conservation ◽

Positive Impact ◽

Ghg Emissions ◽

Production Factor ◽

Agricultural Water ◽

Dndc Model ◽

Agricultural Water Use ◽

Means Of Production

<p>The agriculture sector is one of the largest users of water and a significant source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The development of low-GHG-emission and water-conserving agriculture will inevitably be the trend in the future. Because of the physiological differences among crops and their response efficiency to external changes, changes in planting structure, climate and input of production factors will have an impact on regional agricultural water use and GHG emissions. This paper systematically analyzed the spatial-temporal evolution characteristics of crop planting structure, climate, and production factor inputs in Heilongjiang Province, the main grain-producing region of China, from 2000 to 2015, and quantified the regional agricultural water use and GHG emissions characteristics under different scenarios by using the Penman-Monteith formula and the Denitrification-Decomposition (DNDC) model. The results showed that the global warming potential (GWP) increased by 15% due to the change in planting structure. A large increase in the proportion of rice and corn sown was the main reason. During the study period, regional climate change had a positive impact on the water- saving and emission reduction of the agricultural industry. The annual water demand per unit area decreased by 19%, and the GWP decreased by 12% compared with that in 2000. The input of fertilizer and other means of production will have a significant impact on GHG emissions from farmlands. The increase in N fertilizer input significantly increased N<sub>2</sub>O emissions, with a 5% increase in GWP. Agricultural water consumption and carbon emissions are affected by changes in climate, input of means of production, and planting structure. Therefore, multiple regulatory measures should be taken in combination with regional characteristics to realize a new layout of planting structure with low emissions, water conservation, and sustainability.</p>

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Use and minimization of water in leather tanning processes

Water Science & Technology ◽

10.2166/wst.1999.0051 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 40 (1) ◽

pp. 237-244 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

O. Tünay ◽

I. Kabdaşlı ◽

D. Orhon ◽

G. Cansever

Keyword(s):

Water Use ◽

Water Conservation ◽

Complex Structure ◽

Extensive Study ◽

Pollution Load ◽

Leather Processing ◽

Leather Tanning ◽

High Pollution ◽

The Subject ◽

Tanning Industry

Minimization of water use and reuse applications within industry has recently gained importance within the context of water conservation efforts. The leather tanning industry is one of the subject industries due to large amount of water to be disposed of together with a high pollution load. The leather tanning industry has a complex structure in terms of materials, processes and manufacturing practices. Therefore a systematic approach is required to assess water use practice. In this study, bovine leather processing was taken as an example. An extensive study was conducted as on-site evaluations and questionnaires in the İstanbul Organized Leather Tanning District to assess water use practices, patterns and minimization trends. Results of the study were discussed and important aspects of water minimization practices have been pointed out.

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