Promoting water conservation habits in shower use: review of water utility websites in OECD cities

González-Gómez, F., López-Ruiz, S. and Tortajada, C. (2022) Promoting water conservation habits in shower use: review of water utility websites in OECD cities. Water International, 47(4), pp. 632-645. (doi: 10.1080/02508060.2022.2052662)

Abstract

Personal hygiene accounts for 30–45% of water use in households in Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries, and of this water, the greatest proportion is used for showering. More efficient showers can be achieved by using efficient technologies – mainly efficient showerheads – as well as through the adoption of sustainable habits, such as reducing shower frequency and duration. A review of the websites of water utilities in cities of OECD countries shows little effort to promote water-saving shower habits. Addressing this shortcoming would improve the sustainability of water use, compared with the current focus on efficient technologies.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: The authors acknowledge financial support from the Agencia Estatal de Investigación and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) [grant number ECO2017-86822-R]; the Regional Government of Andalusia (Consejería de Economía, Innovación, Ciencia y Empleo, Junta de Andalucía) and the ERDF [grant numbers P18-RT-576 and B-SEJ-018-UGR18], the University of Granada (Plan Propio. Unidad Científica de Excelencia: Desigualdad, Derechos Humanos y Sostenibilidad – DEHUSO) and the Spanish Aid Program for Predoctoral Contracts for University Teacher Training (FPU) 2019 of the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities (Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades).
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Tortajada, Professor Cecilia
• Authors: González-Gómez, F., López-Ruiz, S., and Tortajada, C.
• College/School: College of Social Sciences > School of Social & Environmental Sustainability
• Journal Name: Water International
• Publisher: Taylor and Francis
• ISSN: 0250-8060
• ISSN (Online): 1941-1707
• Published Online: 07 April 2022
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2022 International Water Resources Association
• First Published: First published in Water International 47(4) 632-645
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the publisher copyright policy