Household use of and satisfaction with alternative water sources in Victoria Australia

• Published in: Journal of environmental management Vol. 92; no. 10; pp. 2691 - 2697
• Main Author: Hurlimann, Anna
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.10.2011; Elsevier; Academic Press Ltd
• Subjects: Adaptation; Adaptation to change; Adult; Alternative water sources; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Applied ecology; Australia; Biological and medical sciences; Climate Change; Community; Conservation of Natural Resources - legislation & jurisprudence; Conservation of Natural Resources - methods; Conservation, protection and management of environment and wildlife; Consumer Behavior - legislation & jurisprudence; Data Collection; Domestic; Drought; Droughts; Empirical research; Environmental policy; Environmental Policy - legislation & jurisprudence; Family Characteristics; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gardens; Gardens & gardening; General aspects; Governments; Households; Housing; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Policies; Rain; Recycling - legislation & jurisprudence; Satisfaction; Shortages; Victoria; Water conservation; Water management; Water supplies; Water supply; Water Supply - legislation & jurisprudence; Australia; Oceania; Victoria; Victoria Australia; Australia; Drought; Alternative water sources; Community; Domestic; Adaptation; Victoria Australia; Environmental management
• ISSN: 0301-4797; 1095-8630
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2011.06.007

Climate change is increasing the variability of rainfall, and thus the availability of water supplies in many areas of the world. These impacts are already being felt in the state of Victoria, Australia where a 12 year drought period was recently experienced. Restrictions to water use have been implemented, as one component of a broad policy approach to manage the drought. While anecdotal evidence suggests that the substitution of centralised water supplies is occurring, this has not been proven empirically. This paper reports results from a survey of households in Victoria regarding their use of alternative water sources. The study found that substitution is occurring. Garden watering is the purpose which has the highest rate of alternative water source use. In total 41.6% of respondents always, and 33.2% sometimes use an alternative water source for garden watering. The most commonly used alternative source of water for garden watering is water previously used in the laundry (30.7%). The alternative source of water used was found to vary depending on the purpose of the water use. High levels of satisfaction were found for all alternative water sources used. Several barriers were found to the use of alternative water sources, the main of which were: inflexibility of existing infrastructure, cost, policy, and housing status. The results have implications for water retailers, policy makers and governments in locations facing water shortage. ► Household use of alternative water sources in Victoria, Australia was researched. ► Results indicate substitution of centralised water supplies with alternatives occurs. ► Garden watering has the highest rate of alternative water source use. ► Water previously used in the laundry is most commonly used for this purpose.► The alternative water source used varies depending on the purpose of the water use.