The University of Southampton
University of Southampton Institutional Repository

Developing novel approaches to tracking domestic water demand under uncertainty - A reflection on the "up scaling" of social science approaches in the United Kingdom

Developing novel approaches to tracking domestic water demand under uncertainty - A reflection on the "up scaling" of social science approaches in the United Kingdom
Developing novel approaches to tracking domestic water demand under uncertainty - A reflection on the "up scaling" of social science approaches in the United Kingdom
Climate change, socio-demographic change and changing patterns of ordinary consumption are creating new and unpredictable pressures on urban water resources in the UK. While demand management is currently offered as a first option for managing supply/demand deficit, the uncertainties around demand and its' potential trajectories are problematic. In this paper we review the ways in which particular branches of social science offer a model of 'distributed demand' that helps explain these current and future uncertainties. We also identify a few potential strategies for tracking where the drivers of change for demand may lie. Rather than suggesting an alternative 'demand forecasting' technique we propose alternative methodological approaches that 'stretch out' and 'scale up' measures of demand to inform water resources planning and policy. These proxy measurements could act as 'indictors of change' to water demand at a population level that could then be used to inform research and policy strategies. We conclude by arguing for the need to recognise the co-production of demand futures and supply trajectories.
water demand, socio-technical sytems, climate change UK
0920-4741
1013-1035
Browne, A.
81f76a6f-6615-4d37-b47a-449c9b0caa08
Medd, W.
e17b4ed2-21b9-4f59-b7cc-c93858da6906
Anderson, B.
01e98bbd-b402-48b0-b83e-142341a39b2d
Browne, A.
81f76a6f-6615-4d37-b47a-449c9b0caa08
Medd, W.
e17b4ed2-21b9-4f59-b7cc-c93858da6906
Anderson, B.
01e98bbd-b402-48b0-b83e-142341a39b2d

Browne, A., Medd, W. and Anderson, B. (2013) Developing novel approaches to tracking domestic water demand under uncertainty - A reflection on the "up scaling" of social science approaches in the United Kingdom. [in special issue: Adaptation and Resilience of Water Systems to an Uncertain Changing Climate] Water Resources Management, 27 (4), 1013-1035. (doi:10.1007/s11269-012-0117-y).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Climate change, socio-demographic change and changing patterns of ordinary consumption are creating new and unpredictable pressures on urban water resources in the UK. While demand management is currently offered as a first option for managing supply/demand deficit, the uncertainties around demand and its' potential trajectories are problematic. In this paper we review the ways in which particular branches of social science offer a model of 'distributed demand' that helps explain these current and future uncertainties. We also identify a few potential strategies for tracking where the drivers of change for demand may lie. Rather than suggesting an alternative 'demand forecasting' technique we propose alternative methodological approaches that 'stretch out' and 'scale up' measures of demand to inform water resources planning and policy. These proxy measurements could act as 'indictors of change' to water demand at a population level that could then be used to inform research and policy strategies. We conclude by arguing for the need to recognise the co-production of demand futures and supply trajectories.

This record has no associated files available for download.

More information

Published date: March 2013
Additional Information: Erratum to Developing Novel Approaches to Tracking Domestic Water Demand Under Uncertainty-A Reflection on the "Up Scaling" of Social Science Approaches in the United Kingdom (Water Resour Manage, 10.1007/s11269-012-0117-y) was published on 27th November 2012 as there was mistake in the presenttation of figure 1.
Keywords: water demand, socio-technical sytems, climate change UK
Organisations: Energy & Climate Change Group

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 350351
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/350351
ISSN: 0920-4741
PURE UUID: c2b3c917-b8e0-4a00-8ad1-65b4e59bc07a
ORCID for B. Anderson: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0003-2092-4406

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 25 Mar 2013 15:08
Last modified: 14 Mar 2024 13:24

Export record

Altmetrics

Contributors

Author: A. Browne
Author: W. Medd
Author: B. Anderson ORCID iD

Download statistics

Downloads from ePrints over the past year. Other digital versions may also be available to download e.g. from the publisher's website.

View more statistics

Atom RSS 1.0 RSS 2.0

Contact ePrints Soton: eprints@soton.ac.uk

ePrints Soton supports OAI 2.0 with a base URL of http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/cgi/oai2

This repository has been built using EPrints software, developed at the University of Southampton, but available to everyone to use.

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue without changing your settings, we will assume that you are happy to receive cookies on the University of Southampton website.

×