Residential Water Consumption: A Cross Country Analysis

Survey data from 10 OECD countries are used to model household water demand. Statistically significant results include: (1) an inelastic average price response is estimated for every country; (2) households not charged volumetrically consume more water than households that are; (3) household size, residence size, higher education, full-time employment and household income increase water consumption; (4) attitudinal characteristics do not have a statistically significant effect on consumption but increase the probability of undertaking water saving behaviors; and (5) promotion of water saving behaviors would be more effective if households faced a volumetric water charge.