The Evaluation of Information Campaigns to Promote Voluntary Household Water Conservation

Abstract

Save-water campaigns are the most common tools for promoting household water conservation. Despite their popularity, there is some debate about how effective they are. In this article, the authors provide a representative review of the summative evaluations of persuasive conservation programs. It is concluded that there is an underuse of quasi-experimental techniques and qualitative analysis. Most have been too broad to allow for specific suggestions for improving campaigns. In the second half of the review, an outline of a communications model is offered and literature relating to both input and output variables pertaining to persuasion summarized. Gaps in understanding are identified. The need to systematically research behavioral change models to improve understanding and performance of persuasive water conservation campaigns is discussed.

Household Adoption of Water-Efficient Equipment: The Role of Socio-Economic Factors, Environmental Attitudes and Policy

“…They also find a strong and significant positive effect of the marginal price for water and of the low-flow toilet and showerhead subsidy program on the number of such equipments in the household. These results seem to contradict the findings of Syme, Nancarrow and Seligman (2000) who, in a survey of the research on attitudes and water conservation, concluded that monetary savings are not a large factor in water conservation (at least as long as water is underpriced), and that subjective norms or other socially motivated values are more important in strengthening behavioural intentions to conserve water. Apart from that survey and the econometric analysis of Renwick and Archibald (1998), and as far as we know, the effect of the price of water on installation of water-saving devices has never been studied.…”

Assessing domestic water use habits for more effective water awareness campaigns during drought periods: a case study in Alicante, eastern Spain

“…One problem is the temporal horizon. Since most water awareness campaigns are implemented during drought periods of a variable length, their effectiveness may be limited to the duration of what is often considered an exceptional and not a normal event (Syme et al, 2000). Reductions in water consumption may also be highly variable, from 5 to almost 20 % in certain cases .…”

Perceptions of Water Ownership, Water Management, and the Responsibility of Providing Clean Water

“…These efforts may instead be due to a perceived moral obligation where individuals feel the need to act in environmentally friendly ways for ethical reasons [40,52]. Overall, while the participants' seemed unconcerned about running out of water, conservation efforts are still apparent.…”