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Residential water conservation in a noncrisis setting: Results of a New Jersey Experiment
Author(s) -
Palmini Dennis J.,
Shelton Theodore B.
Publication year - 1982
Publication title -
water resources research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.863
H-Index - 217
eISSN - 1944-7973
pISSN - 0043-1397
DOI - 10.1029/wr018i004p00697
Subject(s) - gallon (us) , environmental science , water conservation , agricultural economics , business , geography , engineering , economics , water resources , ecology , waste management , biology
East Brunswick Township, New Jersey, conducted a water conservation program in 1980 by distributing to 564 households free packets of water‐saving devices purchased with municipal funds. The program was not a response to a current water supply crisis, and appeals for cooperation were based on the private economic benefits of water conservation. Statistical procedures were developed to measure the proportions of households installing each of the devices distributed, water savings and program costs. Two‐thirds of the households receiving the packets installed at least one device. Average annual water savings per home receiving a packet were estimated at 5010 gallons (18.96 kl). Amortized over ten years at a 10% discount rate, the program cost was approximately 35 cents per 1000 gallons of water saved (9.2 cents per kl). The East Brunswick results compare well to the results obtained from similar conservation programs in a pair of California communities during the 1976–1977 drought.