More countries are working with their citizens to become mindful of the amount of water they consume, with the goal of reducing consumption. This is proving increasingly necessary because even though water-reducing or water eliminating technologies, such as waterless urinals, have lowered consumption dramatically around the world, there is another factor that must be added to the mix. To make lasting reductions in water consumption and use water more efficiently, we need to change behaviors.
However, changing behaviors is not easy. During a serious drought, consumers often adhere to consumption restrictions and do reduce water use. However, when there appears to be no specific reason to reduce consumption, changing behaviors can be much more difficult.
To see what we mean, let’s visit a small town in Costa Rica called Belen. This is a working-class community of just over 20,000 people. This area of Costa Rica is being impacted by climate change. The result is that water is not as plentiful as it was a decade ago. Further, to upgrade the water infrastructure to improve supplies would be very costly.
While the community ultimately was “nudged” into reducing water consumption, it took a while. Some of the obstacles civic leaders encountered were the following:
While people living in Belen realized the community had to reduce water consumption, most people did not believe that meant they had to cut water use. “If someone were to suggest to me that I reduce the amount of water consumed, I would tell him that I am using the amount that is necessary,” was the reply of one resident. In other words, most people in
Belen thought someone else had to reduce consumption, but not them.
Most of the residents had no idea how much water they were using. Some water bills were mailed out monthly, others quarterly, and still others every few months. While people knew how much their water bill tended to be with each billing, they paid little or no attention to how this dollar amount translated into gallons. In other words, they had no idea how much water they were using.
Most residents said their bills were confusing, if not impossible to understand. The amounts were often listed in cubic meters, and these numbers were mixed with dates and other figures.
Some residents could read their water bills and did know how much water they were using on a set basis. However, they had no idea how this compared to their neighbors.
Finally, while residents of Belen assumed if they watered their lawns less or took shorter showers, this would reduce water consumption. But what they did not know is by how much. Would they save more water if all family members took three-minute showers or was it better to just water lawns every three days instead of every other day?
For many of us, this might all seem interesting and reflect issues in a country thousands of miles away. However, if we look more closely, virtually every obstacle discussed here applies to us as well.
For instance:
· Do you believe you are doing your part, and reducing water consumption, or is it someone else’s problem?
· Do you know how much water your home uses every day?
· Can you understand your water bill?
· Do you pay it without looking to see how much water is being used in your home or facility?
· If you were a building manager and had to decide between installing “native” vegetation, which uses less water, or retrofitting the facility with waterless urinals, do you know which would produce the most significant water savings?
If we are going to change water consumption behaviors, whether in Costa Rica or the U.S., we must have a much better understanding of our behavior when it comes to water. Water use behaviors can change, but the first step in the process is awareness.
For more information on how to reduce water consumption, waterless urinals, and to use water more efficiently, contact a Waterless Co Specialist
