MUNICIPAL UTILIZATION OF WATER DEMAND MANAGEMENT: THE ONTARIO EXPERIENCE¹

Abstract

Managing the demand for municipal water supply has become a viable alternative or supplement to traditional supply management responses. Though senior governments in Canada are committed to the concept, there is a lack of knowledge concerning the level of use of the demand management concept and little promotion of water conservation. This paper assesses the extent of the use of this concept as it applies to municipal water supply across southern Ontario and examines factors that influence the variation in use of water conservation strategies. Information from 219 municipalities revealed that the concept is not in wide use in southern Ontario and that existing variation can be partially explained by the extent of problems experienced and the population size served by the municipal water supply system. Suggestions for increasing municipal use of the demand management concept are offered.

DEMAND SIDE MANAGEMENT OF WATER IN ONTARIO MUNICIPALITIES: STATUS, PROGRESS, AND OPPORTUNITIES1

“…They asked municipalities if they had introduced new "laws/bylaws/regulations/ordinances" as part of their demand side management initiative; 55% of responding communities in their study indicated that they had. Kreutzwiser and Feagan's (1989) 1987 survey apparently is the only previous effort to capture the ordinance experiences of a large proportion of Ontario municipalities.…”

“…To supplement findings from the above, data also were gathered regarding the overall effectiveness of demand side measures, and factors that facilitated and constrained their use. All types of municipalities were represented in the survey, ranging from dispersed rural townships to cities and regional munici- palities. In addition to presenting a comprehensive, up-todate overview of municipal demand side practices in Canada's largest province, the paper highlights areas where progress has been made since the last major assessment of water conservation practices in Ontario (Kreutzwiser and Feagan, 1989). Where appropriate, comparisons also are made with other studies that address demand side management in Ontario, including Schaefer and Hurst's (1997) analysis of the application of metering and water rate structures among Ontario municipalities over the 1983-1994 period, Wailer and Scott's (1998) national overview of municipal water demand side measures, and Environment Canada's regular surveys of water rates (e.g., Tate, 1989;Lacelle, 1992, 1995).…”

“…Additionally, the survey collected data on implementation barriers and opportunities. Since the last comprehensive Ontario survey, conducted in 1987 by Kreutzwiser and Feagan (1989), there has been an increase in the use of basic tools such as metering and pricing, plumbing fixtures, and public participation programs. Additionally, new initiatives, such as water audits and computerized monitoring equipment, are being used.…”

Residents’ Assessment of an Urban Outdoor Water Conservation Program in Guelph, Ontario1

“…Kreutzwiser and Feagan (1989) found that 35% of 219 Ontario municipalities surveyed in 1987 had ordinances restricting outside use, compared with almost 60% of 153 Ontario municipalities surveyed in 1998 (de Loë et al, 2001). Kreutzwiser and Feagan (1989) found that 35% of 219 Ontario municipalities surveyed in 1987 had ordinances restricting outside use, compared with almost 60% of 153 Ontario municipalities surveyed in 1998 (de Loë et al, 2001).…”

“…Restrictions on outdoor water use have become more common. Kreutzwiser and Feagan (1989) found that 35% of 219 Ontario municipalities surveyed in 1987 had ordinances restricting outside use, compared with almost 60% of 153 Ontario municipalities surveyed in 1998 (de Loë et al, 2001). Outdoor water use ordinances are sometimes linked to drought contingency plans.…”