Effects of Controls on Water Consumption

This report was produced for the Urban Water Research Association of Australia, a now discontinued research program.

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Report no. UWRAA 31

October 1991

Synopsis

A methodology was developed for assessing the effects of controls on water consumption based on multiple linear regression analysis. Annual consumption data, for the Newcastle region in New South Wales, for the period 1942-88 was analysed to determine the effects of water-use restrictions during 1966-67 and1979-82 and the effect of a two-part ‘user-pays’ water tariff which was introduced in July 1982. The analysis allowed for the effects of rainfall and other unspecified factors on consumption. The reductions in water consumption due to the controls were about 14 percent during 1966-67, 15-20 percent during1979-82 and 20-29 percent during 1982-88.

An analysis of monthly water usage in domestic environments was also undertaken for a sample of domestic properties in Newcastle for the period 1976-1989. It was found that during periods of water restrictions there was no appreciable change in ‘in house’ usage but ‘ex house’ usage dropped substantially in summer months from about 1000 litres per day per property to about 300 litres per day. On the removal of restrictions early in 1982 ‘ex house’ usage during summer increased to 800 litres per day but reduced again to about 400 litres per day when the ‘user-pays’ tariff was applied.

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