Understanding the factors that influence domestic water consumption within Melbourne

Abstract

This social research project investigated the factors that influence community receptivity to using alternative water sources and technologies at the household scale. Focused through the City of Bayside, in southeast Melbourne, it involved a survey testing receptivity to a series of proposed activities using rainwater, greywater and seawater. It also tested perceived barriers to installing water reuse technologies. Increasing population and potential implications of climate change are driving the need to substantially reduce Melbourne’s potable water demand. So far, there have been few investigations into how to improve community receptivity to potable substitution to support urban water reform initiatives. The results revealed that water reuse receptivity was highest for external uses, such as watering gardens and flushing toilets, and progressively decreased with increasing personal contact, with receptivity to greywater declining more rapidly. Retrofitting of domestic rainwater tanks and greywater reuse systems was identified at around 5%. Difficulty, cost and renter status were revealed as key barriers to widespread implementation rather than poor awareness and attitudes. This evidence suggests that it is imperative that future initiatives harness this strong receptivity. Dedicated incentives, combined with active skills transfer and implementation and operational knowledge-building, should be the core elements of future programs, which need to be facilitated by a ‘help-line’ type service.

Keywords:

• Behavioural change
• receptivity
• social research
• urban water reuse

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Jodi M Clarke

Jodi Clarke is a Research Assistant with the School of Geography and Environmental Science at Monash University. She is an Environmental Scientist and has experience with both quantitative and qualitative social research techniques. Jodi is interested in the relationship between urban water systems and society and recently completed her honours degree at Monash titled ‘Understanding Influences on Domestic Water Consumption within Bayside, Melbourne’.

Rebekah R Brown

Rebekah Brown is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Geography and Environmental Science at Monash University and currently co-ordinates the Masters of Corporate Environmental and Sustainability Management Program. She is a civil engineer and social scientist who has specialised in environmental and sustainability issues in the water sector over the last 15 years. Rebekah leads the National Urban Water Governance Program, which focuses on the challenge of enabling institutional development and organisational change that advances the wide-spread implementation of more sustainable forms of urban water management across Metropolitan regions.