Changing cultures of water in eastern Australian backyard gardens

Abstract

Research into diverse cultural understandings of water provides important contributions to the pressing global issue of sustainable supply, particularly when combined with analysis of relationships between everyday household practice and larger sociotechnical networks of storage and distribution. Here we analyse semistructured interviews with 298 people about their 241 backyards in the Australian east coast cities of Sydney and Wollongong, undertaken during the 2002-03 drought. Water emerged as an important issue in both consciousness and practice. In contrast to a number of other environmental issues which stimulate more polarised responses, a commitment to reducing water consumption was shared across the study population and manifest in a variety of changed practices. However these aspirations are in tension with the pleasure derived from water, and expressed desires for more watery environments. This work contrasts with and extends other studies that have emphasised the perceived separation between the modern home and the networks of production that sustain it. We argue that it is in the relationship between house and garden that people see, understand and participate in the network of water storage and distribution. Their active engagement with these processes enhances their capacity to manage and reduce consumption.

Australians’ Water Conservation Behaviours and Attitudes

“…Barriers identified included feeling stuck within current 'socio-technical' systems of water. Evidence of altered water behaviours in response to drought is also provided by other studies, including Head and Muir (2007). They provide detailed descriptions of how residents of Sydney and Wollongong are facilitating the use of alternative water sources and actively adapting their previous water practices in response to drought.…”

“A Beautiful Soaking Rain”: Environmental Value and Water beyond Eurocentrism

“…I take a multidisciplinary approach, drawing on multiple knowledges of Australian water and landscapes, including indigenous, local settler, and scientific knowledge. Such work highlights the specificity of living with semiarid postcolonial landscapes, marked by variability and contested notions of belonging (eg Allon and Sofoulis, 2006;Gelder and Jacobs, 1998;Gibbs, 2006;2009a;Goodall, 2002;Head, 2000;Head and Muir, 2007;Instone, 2004;Kingsford, 2000;Macfarlane, 2005;McManus, 2008;Powell, 2000;Read, 2000). Second, I draw on lessons from Australian Aboriginal people and from academic discourse of Aboriginal studies ömuch of which emerges from work by or with Aboriginal peoples and communities.…”

Socio-Technological Influences on Future Water Demands

“…The duration of shower usage should also be limited to 3 minutes (through timing devices) with 6 L/min showers in order to achieve such dramatic reductions. This is eminently possible and has already been achieved in Australia [12,14,21]. Given the significant step-change from the current situation it might be expected that shower duration would be influenced by switching to a low-flow showerheads.…”

“…It should be noted that the above narratives, and values of frequency and duration for indoor water use, are firmly based on current western values and way of life. A radically different outcome might be achieved if values drawn from overseas countries experiencing water scarcity (e.g., Australia, [12]) or from past UK experience (e.g., rural or post-second World War, [3]) are considered as discussed later). Taps feeding kitchen sinks were assumed to run for 20 s., twice a day per person in all Levels except Level F where 1 minute is assumed.…”

“…Unfortunately, in some cases a lack of awareness exists amongst designers, planners, engineers and in particular consumers of the potential for reducing water demand that these water-saving devices can offer in conjunction with current and future changes in water use behaviour. For example, work from Australia, New Zealand, USA and UK is showing that behaviour and attitudes toward water consumption and conservation are at least as important, if not more important, in terms of encouraging long-term water conservation habits [12][13][14][15]. Unfortunately in the UK consumers are typically unaware of water scarcity or the environmental impact of water use and behaviour change is only temporarily at the time of droughts when hosepipe bans are in place [16].…”