Water conservation behavior in Australia

• Published in: Journal of environmental management Vol. 105; no. 14; pp. 44 - 52
• Main Authors: Dolnicar, Sara, Hurlimann, Anna, Grün, Bettina
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 30.08.2012; Elsevier; Academic Press Ltd; Academic Press
• Subjects: Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Applied ecology; Attitude; Augmentation; Australia; Biological and medical sciences; Conservation; Conservation of Natural Resources - methods; Conservation, protection and management of environment and wildlife; Consumer behaviour; Data Collection; Decision tree; Decision trees; Drivers; Environmentalism; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General aspects; Humans; Information seeking; Linear Models; Management; Motivation; Pro-environmental behavior; Recycling; Regression analysis; Socioeconomic Factors; Strategic planning; Strategy; Surveys and Questionnaires; Water; Water conservation; Water conservation behavior; Water reuse; Water supplies; Water supply; Water Supply - standards; Australia; Oceania; Pro-environmental behavior; Information seeking; Regression analysis; Australia; Decision tree; Water conservation behavior; Water conservation; Behavior; Environmental management
• ISSN: 0301-4797; 1095-8630
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2012.03.042

Ensuring a nation's long term water supply requires the use of both supply-sided approaches such as water augmentation through water recycling, and demand-sided approaches such as water conservation. Conservation behavior can only be increased if the key drivers of such behavior are understood. The aim of this study is to reveal the main drivers from a comprehensive pool of hypothesized factors. An empirical study was conducted with 3094 Australians. Data was analyzed using multivariate linear regression analysis and decision trees to determine which factors best predict self-reported water conservation behavior. Two key factors emerge: high level of pro-environmental behavior; and pro-actively seeking out information about water. A number of less influential factors are also revealed. Public communication strategy implications are derived. ► Water conservation remains an important strategy to ensure future water supply. ► To increase conservation behavior its key drivers must be understood. ► We aim to empirically reveal the main drivers from a range of hypothesized factors. ► A number of factors are associated with water conservation. ► Two factors dominate: A high level of pro-environmental behavior and pro-actively seeking out water-related information.