Analyzing the Residential Water Consumption Patterns of the City of Toronto and the Relationship With Demographic Variables

Abstract

The aim of the thesis was to understand residential water usage in Toronto from 2001 to 2016 and to explore demographic and economic variables that might have affected use. Data were aggregated at the ward level and analyzed by multiple regression. The model explains that wards with high average household income use more water per capita. Water exhibited price elasticity, per capita water use decreased as price increased, but more so in low income wards than high income wards. Average household size had a positive effect on per capita water use; larger households use more water, not only in total, but per capita. Annual rainfall had a negative effect on per capita water use, perhaps due to decreased water demand for lawns and gardens. Interestingly, the percent immigrant had a negative effect on water use which suggests a stronger ethos of water conservation among newer Canadians.