Residential Water Conservation in Australia and California
Publication: Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management
Volume 139, Issue 1
Abstract
In much of the western United States, reducing residential water use is a major source of water conservation, especially as population growth urbanizes agricultural land. Although estimates of the potential of conservation are useful, the experience of Australia provides a realistic target for residential water conservation. Although reliability of urban water use data is often questionable, it is clear that Australians use less water than Californians, with a similar climate, economy, and culture. Per capita usage is compared, and explanations for use differences are offered. If California had the same residential water use rates as Australia, it could have reduced gross urban water use by 2,600 GL (2.1 million acre-feet) in 2009 and potentially saved 1,800 GL (1.5 million acre-feet) for consumptive use by others.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
Acknowledgments
Thanks to Dong Chen of California DWR for his help and patience in providing the PWSS data and to three anonymous reviewers for their helpful suggestions to improve the paper.
References
Australian Associated Press (AAP). (2006). “Turf industry slams water rules.” Herald Sun, Nov. 6.
Australian Bureau of Meteorology (ABM). (2010). “Average annual, seasonal, and monthly rainfall.” 〈http://www.bom.gov.au/jsp/ncc/climate_averages/rainfall/index.jsp〉 (Nov. 8, 2010).
Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). (1997). “1996 census of population and housing: Selected social and housing characteristics.”, Canberra, Australia.
Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). (2000). “Water account, Australia, 1993–1994 to 1996–1997.”, Canberra, Australia.
Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). (2002). “Selected social and housing characteristics, Australia, 2001.”, Canberra, Australia.
Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). (2004a). “Australian social trends, 2004.”, Canberra, Australia.
Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). (2004b). “Environmental concerns and related activities.”, Canberra, Australia.
Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). (2004c). “Water account, Australia, 2001–2002.”, Canberra, Australia.
Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). (2005). “Average size of new residential lots in capital cities.”, Canberra, Australia.
Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). (2006). “Water account, Australia, 2004–2005.”, Canberra, Australia.
Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). (2008). “Australia at a glance 2008.”, Canberra, Australia.
Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). (2010a). “Environmental issues: Water use and conservation.”, Canberra, Australia.
Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). (2010b). “Water account, Australia, 2008–2009.”, Canberra, Australia.
Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). (2010). “Gross domestic product by state.” 〈http://www.bea.gov/regional/gsp/〉 (Nov. 8, 2010).
Cahill, R., and Lund, J. (2011). “Residential water conservation in Australia and California.” Internal Report, Univ. of California—Davis, Davis, CA.
CALFED Bay-Delta Program. (2006). “Water use efficiency comprehensive evaluation.” Final Report, California Bay-Delta Authority, Sacramento, CA.
Denver Water. (2011). “Denver’s water use.” 〈http://www.denverwater.org/AboutUs/KeyFacts/〉 (Apr. 5, 2011).
DeOreo, W. et al. (2011). “California single-family water use efficiency study.” Rep. Prepared for the California Dept. of Water Resources, Aquacraft Inc., Boulder, CO.
Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE). (2010). “Water restrictions.” 〈http://www.ourwater.vic.gov.au/saving/restrictions〉 (Nov. 6, 2010).
Department of Water Resources (DWR). (1998). “California water plan.”, Sacramento, CA.
Department of Water Resources (DWR). (2005). “California water plan.”, Sacramento, CA.
Department of Water Resources (DWR). (2009). “California water plan.”, Sacramento, CA.
Department of Water Resources (DWR). (2010). “ water conservation plan.” Rep. Prepared by the California Dept. of Water Resources, Sacramento, CA.
Department of Water Resources (DWR). (2011). “Public water system survey data, 1994–2009.” Rep. Prepared by the California Dept. of Water Resources, San Francisco, CA.
East Bay Municipal Utilities District (EBMUD). (2005). “Urban water management plan 2005.” Rep. Prepared for the Water Resources Planning Division, Sacramento, CA.
East Bay Municipal Utilities District (EBMUD). (2011). “Urban water management plan 2010.” Rep. Prepared for the Water Resources Planning Division, Sacramento, CA.
Gleick, P. et al. (2003). “Waste not, want not: The potential for urban water conservation in California.” Rep. Prepared for the California Dept. of Water Resources, Pacific Institute, Oakland, CA.
Hanak, E., and Davis, M. (2006). “Lawns and water demand in California.” Rep. Prepared by the Public Policy Institute of California, San Francisco, CA.
Hanak, E. et al. (2011). “Managing California’s water: From conflict to reconciliation.” Rep. Prepared by the Public Policy Institute of California, San Francisco, CA.
Hazen, A. (1920). “Water use variation in completely metered systems.” Eng. News-Rec., 85(10), 449–450.
Horridge, J., and Rimmer, M. (1994). “Water pricing and investment in Melbourne.” Rep. Prepared by the Centre of Policy Studies, Monash Univ., Clayton, Australia.
Loh, M., and Coghlan, P. (2003). “Domestic water use study in Perth, Western Australia 1998–2001.” Rep. Prepared by the Water Corporation, Leederville, Australia.
Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP). (2011). “Urban water management plan 2011.” Rep. Prepared for the City of Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA.
Mayer, P., and DeOreo, W. (1999). “Residential end uses of water.” Rep. Prepared by the American Water Works Association Research Foundation, Denver, CO.
Mitchell, D. et al. (1994). “Setting urban water rates for efficiency and conservation.” Rep. Prepared by the California Urban Water Conservation Council, Sacramento, CA.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). (2010). “California precipitation September–August 1896–2010.” 〈http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/temp-and-precip/time-series/index.php?parameter=pcp&month=8&year=2009&filter=12&state=4&div=0〉 (Nov. 8, 2010).
OANDA. (2011). “Historical exchange rates.” 〈http://www.oanda.com/currency/historical-rates/〉 (Apr. 11, 2011).
Portland Water Bureau (PWB). (2011). “Demand and consumption information.” 〈http://www.portlandonline.com/water/index.cfm?c=29881&a=29952〉 (Mar. 25, 2011).
Roberts, P. (2005). “2004 residential end use measurement study.” Rep. Prepared by Yarra Valley Water, Mitcham, Australia.
Sacramento Department of Utilities (SDU). (2011). “2010 urban water management plan.” Rep. Prepared for the City of Sacramento, Sacramento, CA.
San Diego Public Utilities (SDPU). (2011). “2010 urban water management plan.” Rep. Prepared for the City of San Diego, San Diego, CA.
San Francisco Public Utilities Commission. (SFPUC). (2011). “2010 urban water management plan for the City and County of San Francisco.” Rep. Prepared for the City of San Francisco, San Francisco, CA.
San Jose Environmental Services Department (SJESD). (2011). “2010 urban water management plan.” Rep. Prepared for the City of San Jose, San Jose, CA.
State Library of South Australia (SLSA). (2006). “Innovations: Dual-flush toilet.” 〈http://www.samemory.sa.gov.au/site/page.cfm?u=318〉 (Mar. 26, 2011).
Tucson Water. (2008). “2008 update to water plan 2000–2050: Projected water demand.” Rep. Prepared for the City of Tucson, Section 3, Tucson, AZ.
United States Census Bureau (USCB). (2001a). “Average household size.”, Washington, D.C.
United States Census Bureau (USCB). (2001b). “Total population.”, Washington, D.C.
Van Hise, C. (1910). The conservation of natural resources in the United States, MacMillan, New York.
Water Services Association of Australia (WSAA). (2011). “National performance report 2009–2010: Urban water utilities.” Rep. Prepared for the Australian Government, Canberra, Australia.
Willis, R. et al. (2009). “Gold Coast domestic water end use study.” J. Aust. Water Assoc., 36(6), 79–85.
World Bank. (2010). “World development indicators.” 〈http://data.worldbank.org/data-catalog/world-development-indicators?cid=GPD_WDI〉 (Nov. 8, 2010).
Yuhas, K. (2010). “Water conservation statistics for 2009.” Rep. Prepared for the Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority, Albuquerque, NM.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management
Volume 139 • Issue 1 • January 2013
Pages: 117 - 121
Copyright
© 2013 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Apr 28, 2011
Accepted: Dec 29, 2011
Published online: Jan 2, 2012
Published in print: Jan 1, 2013
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.