IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/endesu/v23y2021i9d10.1007_s10668-021-01234-1.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Reduction potential of potable water consumption at urban households: a case study in Sri Lanka

Author

Listed:
  • Ruwan Danuka Edirisinghe

    (ESOFT College of Engineering and Technology)

  • Shakila Pathirana

    (National Engineering Research and Development Centre)

Abstract

Availability of usable water resources in the Asiatic region is becoming scarce at a rapid phase, as consequences of urbanization and climate change. Therefore, saving drinkable water is an unarguably essential sustainable measure. This paper presents a case study done on domestic water-saving potential in urbanized areas of the western province in Sri Lanka. The study approached a mixed methodology. Randomly selected and stratified 342 residents participated in a semi-structured questionnaire survey which was conducted online and at the field. Qualitative and quantitative data on sociodemographics, water consumption and water-related behaviours, attitudes and awareness were gathered. Correlation–regression analysis was performed by using SPSS software. A mathematical model to forecast regular and optimized water consumption was derived. The water-saving potential was computed by subtracting the optimized consumption from regular water consumption. Results of the study indicated that the water-saving potential on average was 30%, which accounted for a substantial saving of resources used for supplying potable water to the urban households, from transboundary water resources. Ten experts in the water sector in the country were interviewed and six of them were given a special type of questionnaire based on analytical hierarchy process method, on water consumer's decision-making, in selecting a water-saving option, from given three options. Respondents used 55.2% criteria weightage in selecting rainwater harvesting as a feasible method in reducing potable water consumption, which was significant for an urban setting.

Suggested Citation

  • Ruwan Danuka Edirisinghe & Shakila Pathirana, 2021. "Reduction potential of potable water consumption at urban households: a case study in Sri Lanka," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 23(9), pages 13689-13706, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:endesu:v:23:y:2021:i:9:d:10.1007_s10668-021-01234-1
    DOI: 10.1007/s10668-021-01234-1
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s10668-021-01234-1
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s10668-021-01234-1?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. M. Babel & A. Gupta & P. Pradhan, 2007. "A multivariate econometric approach for domestic water demand modeling: An application to Kathmandu, Nepal," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 21(3), pages 573-589, March.
    2. Silva Vieira, A. & Weeber, M. & Ghisi, E., 2013. "Self-cleaning filtration: A novel concept for rainwater harvesting systems," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 78(C), pages 67-73.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Sholpan Saimova & Gulsim Makenova & Aizhan Skakova & Aitolkyn Moldagaliyeva & Ardak Beisembinova & Zhamilya Berdiyarova & Bagdagul Imanbekova, 2020. "Towards a Low-carbon Economic Sustainable Development: Scenarios and Policies for Kazakhstan," International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy, Econjournals, vol. 10(5), pages 638-646.
    2. N. Graveline & B. Aunay & J. Fusillier & J. Rinaudo, 2014. "Coping with Urban & Agriculture Water Demand Uncertainty in Water Management Plan Design: the Interest of Participatory Scenario Analysis," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 28(10), pages 3075-3093, August.
    3. Henrique Monteiro, 2010. "Residential Water Demand in Portugal: checking for efficiency-based justifications for increasing block tariffs," Working Papers Series 1 ercwp0110, ISCTE-IUL, Business Research Unit (BRU-IUL).
    4. Mahmut Firat & Mehmet Yurdusev & Mustafa Turan, 2009. "Evaluation of Artificial Neural Network Techniques for Municipal Water Consumption Modeling," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 23(4), pages 617-632, March.
    5. Negin Ashoori & David A. Dzombak & Mitchell J. Small, 2016. "Modeling the Effects of Conservation, Demographics, Price, and Climate on Urban Water Demand in Los Angeles, California," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 30(14), pages 5247-5262, November.
    6. Sara Fontdecaba & Pere Grima & Lluís Marco & Lourdes Rodero & José Sánchez-Espigares & Ignasi Solé & Xavier Tort-Martorell & Dominique Demessence & Victor Martínez De Pablo & Jordi Zubelzu, 2012. "A Methodology to Model Water Demand based on the Identification of Homogenous Client Segments. Application to the City of Barcelona," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 26(2), pages 499-516, January.
    7. Xiao-jun Wang & Jian-yun Zhang & Shahid Shamsuddin & Ru-lin Oyang & Tie-sheng Guan & Jian-guo Xue & Xu Zhang, 2017. "Impacts of climate variability and changes on domestic water use in the Yellow River Basin of China," Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, Springer, vol. 22(4), pages 595-608, April.
    8. Wang Xiao-jun & Zhang Jian-yun & Shahid Shamsuddin & He Rui-min & Xia Xing-hui & Mou Xin-li, 2015. "Potential impact of climate change on future water demand in Yulin city, Northwest China," Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, Springer, vol. 20(1), pages 1-19, January.
    9. Xiao-Chen Yuan & Yi-Ming Wei & Su-Yan Pan & Ju-Liang Jin, 2014. "Urban Household Water Demand in Beijing by 2020: An Agent-Based Model," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 28(10), pages 2967-2980, August.
    10. Md Mahmudul Haque & Amaury Souza & Ataur Rahman, 2017. "Water Demand Modelling Using Independent Component Regression Technique," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 31(1), pages 299-312, January.
    11. K. E. K. Vimal & Ming-Lang Tseng & Samanyu Raju & Mahesh Cherukuri & Amith Ashwithi & Jayakrishna Kandasamy, 2022. "Circular function deployment: a novel mathematical model to identify design factors for circular economy," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 24(7), pages 9068-9101, July.
    12. Mukand Babel & Victor Shinde, 2011. "Identifying Prominent Explanatory Variables for Water Demand Prediction Using Artificial Neural Networks: A Case Study of Bangkok," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 25(6), pages 1653-1676, April.
    13. Muhammad Al-Zahrani & Amin Abo-Monasar, 2015. "Urban Residential Water Demand Prediction Based on Artificial Neural Networks and Time Series Models," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 29(10), pages 3651-3662, August.
    14. Xiao-Jun Wang & Jian-Yun Zhang & Shamsuddin Shahid & Wei Xie & Chao-Yang Du & Xiao-Chuan Shang & Xu Zhang, 2018. "Modeling domestic water demand in Huaihe River Basin of China under climate change and population dynamics," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 20(2), pages 911-924, April.
    15. Md Haque & Ataur Rahman & Dharma Hagare & Golam Kibria, 2014. "Probabilistic Water Demand Forecasting Using Projected Climatic Data for Blue Mountains Water Supply System in Australia," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 28(7), pages 1959-1971, May.
    16. Mohamed Mohamed & Aysha Al-Mualla, 2010. "Water Demand Forecasting in Umm Al-Quwain (UAE) Using the IWR-MAIN Specify Forecasting Model," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 24(14), pages 4093-4120, November.
    17. Xiao-jun Wang & Jian-yun Zhang & Shamsuddin Shahid & En-hong Guan & Yong-xiang Wu & Juan Gao & Rui-min He, 2016. "Adaptation to climate change impacts on water demand," Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, Springer, vol. 21(1), pages 81-99, January.
    18. Subhash Andey & Prakash Kelkar, 2009. "Influence of Intermittent and Continuous Modes of Water Supply on Domestic Water Consumption," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 23(12), pages 2555-2566, September.
    19. Liangfeng Zou & Yuanyuan Zha & Yuqing Diao & Chi Tang & Wenquan Gu & Dongguo Shao, 2023. "Coupling the Causal Inference and Informer Networks for Short-term Forecasting in Irrigation Water Usage," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 37(1), pages 427-449, January.
    20. Saeed Ghavidelfar & Asaad Y. Shamseldin & Bruce W. Melville, 2017. "A Multi-Scale Analysis of Single-Unit Housing Water Demand Through Integration of Water Consumption, Land Use and Demographic Data," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 31(7), pages 2173-2186, May.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:spr:endesu:v:23:y:2021:i:9:d:10.1007_s10668-021-01234-1. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.