‘Water metres’: a new approach to thinking about water conservation in suburbia (original) (raw)

Water Restrictions as way of Moderating Demand

2007

Restrictions on the use of water supplied by water corporations are frequently introduced in Australian cities whenever the demand for water exceeds the experienced or anticipated supply. This paper examines evidence from a stratified random survey of 2179 households in Sydney in a period when restrictions on domestic water use outside the home had just been imposed. The paper explores

Does anybody like water restrictions? Some observations in Australian urban communities*

Australian Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, 2011

Mandatory water restrictions continue to be the immediate response to urban water shortages in most major cities in southern Australia. Whilst generally rejected by economists on efficiency grounds, restrictions and the enforcement regimes used to invoke them are, nonetheless, viewed by some in the community as a positive way of dealing with water scarcity. Given the likelihood that urban water restrictions will persist for some time, there is value in understanding householders’ attitudes in this context. The impact and acceptability of differing approaches to enforcement is of particular interest, because this has wider ramifications for the administration of policy generally. This paper uses the results from a choice experiment to investigate the interplay between different components of a water restriction regime. In stark contrast to prevailing views that focus on the community benefits from ‘sharing the pain of water shortages’, results point to the significance of being able ...

Urban water reform in Australia: lessons from 2003–2013

Water Science & Technology: Water Supply, 2014

Extreme rainfall variability, record droughts, floods and high temperatures have had a major impact on social wellbeing, economic productivity and environmental functionality of urban settings in Australia. Compounded by urban growth and ageing water and wastewater infrastructure, Australia's urban water arrangements have undergone major reforms to effectively manage the challenges of recent years. This paper is a synthesis of urban water reform in Australia during a decade of unforeseen natural extremes. It summarises the evolution of urban water policy, outcomes from recent government reforms and investment, and presents future challenges facing the sector. As governments at state and federal levels in Australia have moved to diversify supply options away from the traditional reliance on rainfall-dependent catchment storages, they have been confronted by issues relating to climate uncertainty, planning, regulation, pricing, institutional reforms, and community demands for sustainable supply solutions. Increases in water prices to pay for new water infrastructure are illustrative of further reform pressures in the urban water sector. In the past 10 years the Australian urban water sector has weathered new extremes in drought and flood and emerged far different to its predecessor. The provision of safe, secure, efficient and sustainable water and wastewater services remains the primary driver for urban water reform. However the challenges and opportunities to improve nationally significant social, economic and environmental outcomes from urban water have evolved considerably. The focus now is on creating the institutional, regulatory and market conditions favourable for the integration of urban water services with the objectives for productive and liveable cities.

Water reform for all: a national response to a water emergency

2020

In the space of a few weeks, the lives of millions of Australians were turned upside down by the devastating bushfire season of 2019-20. This crisis revealed to the world the precariousness of Australia's relationship with nature and highlighted the limitations of our approach to the governance and management of our natural resources. These limitations are arguably most evident in relation to water, an essential but scarce resource, and one which poses huge challenges for policymakers charged with balancing cultural, economic, natural and social imperatives. Australia's recent experience suggests our current policy frameworks are insufficient to meet those challenges, and that we need to find alternatives. This brief seeks to open a dialogue on what those alternatives might be. The authors have faith that good public policy is not beyond our capabilities; indeed they acknowledge Australia's world-renowned expertise in water policy. But they argue we need a new approach, one which draws on the long experience and expertise of the First Australians, which pays attention to questions of human health and ecological survival, and which provides a framework for action in the short-medium and longer-term. The authors do not pretend that they have all the answers, rather they offer a series of principles from which to work, and a set of questions with which to begin that work. The brief is clear though that a new approach requires a national conversation involving all of us. The ANU is uniquely positioned to stimulate this conversation. As the National University, it is part of our mission to support the development and implementation of good public policy, and the authors of this report are all active contributors from the local to the global levels. The Crawford School of Public Policy is at the centre of many conversations about contemporary policy challenges. Informed by our principles of sustainability, integrity, and capability we work with leaders, governments, public, private and not-for-profit organisations, as well as citizens and communities to bring values, evidence and analysis to policy-making for the future. This brief is part of that contribution.

Sofoulis, Z & Strengers, Y 2011, 'Healthy engagement: evaluating models of providers and users for cities of the future', paper presented to Australia's National Water Conference and Exhibition (Ozwater) 2011, Adelaide, Australia, 8-10 May.

Proceedings Ozwater 2011, 2011

There is growing recognition within the water industry that new relationships are required that go beyond the provision of safe and healthy drinking water. Drawing on three studies of Australian water providers and users, as well as existing water research concerning 'hydrosocial contracts' and 'transition models', this study analyses the power relations, behavioural assumptions and impacts on water conservation emerging from different relationships. The paper discusses three types of relationship models: historical, rationalistic and integrated, focussing in particular on their roles in addressing or hindering the industry's transition towards 'cities of the future'. The paper calls for greater emphasis on the relationships embedded into water systems and management structures, and highlights a need for further HASS sector knowledge to understand the social and cultural dynamics within existing relationship models.

CREATING WATER WISE COMMUNITIES THROUGH LOCAL GOVERNMENT INITIATIVES

Water restrictions, recent changes to policy and accessibility to government grants have driven a major shift in how local councils and their community source water for nondrinking consumption. This has lead to increasing uncertainties including the interconnectivity between grey water; groundwater and stormwater re-use as residents' simply uptake these alternatives with ease and limited regulatory guidance. The "big pipe in, and big pipe out" philosophy is breaking down and the complexity of change does not appear to be adequately understood. The unsustainable use of alternate supplies and the risk of cross contamination, both in the long and short term is real. This paper draws upon operational groundwater; grey water and stormwater re-use projects at Manly Council to demonstrate the need for partnerships and mutual learning in the development of trans-integrated policy and sustainable water cycle management. It explores the necessity of demonstration projects, the need to recognise local council sensitivities in facilitating the transition from tap on -tap off, mentality and pursuing harmonious interconnectivity between the elements (and players) in the water cycle.

Below the double bottom line: The challenge of socially sustainable urban water strategies

Australian Journal of Water Resources, 2013

This paper identifies some challenges in developing culturally intelligent approaches to urban water planning and services. Recent research on connections between urban water managers and social and cultural researchers highlights the need for better alignments between ordinary people's practices, motivations and aspirations around water and climate change, and the forms of knowledge water planners and policymakers take into account.