Abstract
Adequate water supply is a prerequisite to a nation’s existence and economic growth. Water, although, available in many different forms, potable water is scarce in many countries. To ensure a sustainable water supply to general public, in addition to building water reservoirs/dams and/or maintaining a sustainable groundwater aquifer system, water pricing and demand management are also essential. Right water pricing can offer number of advantages such as cost recovery and long term demand reduction. This chapter examines how water price and demand restriction can assist in water conservation in potable urban water supply. It has been found that water usage price is nearly inelastic in Australia. On the contrary, water restrictions have played an important role in Australia as a drought response option in reducing water consumption during drought periods when reservoir water level becomes quite low. It has been found that water restriction can reduce water demand during the restriction period by about 33% in Australia. As these restrictions have some negative impacts on the community, this option needs to be carefully investigated in terms of cost and benefits against some other alternative means such as supply augmentation, water recycling and rainwater harvesting.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Water Conservation: Practices, Challenges and Future Implications |
| Editors | Monzur A. Imteaz |
| Place of Publication | U.S.A. |
| Publisher | Nova |
| Pages | 127-145 |
| Number of pages | 19 |
| ISBN (Electronic) | 9781629480251 |
| ISBN (Print) | 9781628089936 |
| Publication status | Published - 2013 |