Evaluation of water efficiency programs in single-family households in the UK: a case study

Abstract

Current water supply worldwide is facing growing pressure as a result of climate change and increasing water demand due to growing population and lifestyle changes. The traditional way of fulfilling the growing demand-supply gap by seeking new water supply options such as exploiting new fresh water resources and investing in the expansion of infrastructure is no longer considered environmentally or economically sustainable. A diverse portfolio of water efficiency measures is now a requirement for the majority of water companies in the UK. This paper presents results from a statistical analysis of a unique water efficiency program case study. The study evaluates the effectiveness of installing water-saving devices in single-family households in areas where a major UK water supply company operates. Using multilevel models, the study accurately measures the water savings achieved through the efficiency program and defines the factors that affect a household’s potential to save water. Analysis illustrated a mean 7% decrease in consumption, explicitly attributable to the efficiency program. Research findings provide strong evidence that single resident and financially stretched households have a bigger potential to conserve water than larger and more affluent ones and also highlight the robustness of multilevel analysis, even in cases of data limitations.

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