Residential Water Demand Management: Lessons from Aurora,Colorado1 |
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Authors: | Douglas S Kenney Christopher Goemans Roberta Klein Jessica Lowrey Kevin Reidy |
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Institution: | 1. Respectively, Respectively, Deputy Director, Research Associates, and Professional Research Assistant (members of the NOAA‐sponsored Western Water Assessment), University of Colorado, UCB 401, Boulder, Colorado 80309‐0401;2. Water Conservation Supervisor for Aurora Water, Aurora, Colorado 80012 |
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Abstract: | Abstract: Residential water demand is a function of several factors, some of which are within the control of water utilities (e.g., price, water restrictions, rebate programs) and some of which are not (e.g., climate and weather, demographic characteristics). In this study of Aurora, Colorado, factors influencing residential water demand are reviewed during a turbulent drought period (2000‐2005). Findings expand the understanding of residential demand in at least three salient ways: first, by documenting that pricing and outdoor water restriction policies interact with each other ensuring that total water savings are not additive of each program operating independently; second, by showing that the effectiveness of pricing and restrictions policies varies among different classes of customers (i.e., low, middle, and high volume water users) and between predrought and drought periods; and third, in demonstrating that real‐time information about consumptive use (via the Water Smart Reader) helps customers reach water‐use targets. |
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Keywords: | water conservation drought residential water demand water pricing |
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