Online water-use feedback: household user interest, savings and implications. Issue 9 (21st October 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Liu, Ariane; Giurco, Damien; Mukheibir, Pierre; Mohr, Steve; Watkins, Graeme; White, Stuart
• Is Part Of: Urban water journal. Volume 14:Issue 9(2017)
• Page Start: 900
• Page End: 907
• Publication Date: 2017-10-21
• Subjects: Sustainable urban water management -- water demand management -- education -- innovation -- metering -- monitoring; Municipal water supply -- Management -- Periodicals; Water-supply -- Planning -- Periodicals; 628.1
• DOI: 10.1080/1573062X.2017.1279194
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1573-062X

Abstract

Abstract: This paper reports on the short- and long-term impacts of online water-use feedback provided via a smart metering trial involving 120 households in New South Wales, Australia. Near-real time water consumption feedback was provided via an online portal to half of the sample. Water consumption was uniquely analysed one year pre- and post-intervention, and in conjunction with login data. During one year of available access, the intervention group saved an overall average of 24.1 litres per household per day (L/hh/d) (4.2%). Regression analysis showed the significant savings of active users related specifically to portal login activity. Significant short-term effects persisted for 42 days, averaging at 63.1 L/hh/d. The article discusses the implications for research and practice, including a consideration of how, in addition to providing ongoing access, online portals could be leveraged further by water authorities to help meet urgent short-term supply constraints such as in drought.