Water Conservation in Kelowna.
Why?
The Okanagan
The Okanagan
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Kelowna (340 mm)Osoyoos (318 mm)Armstrong (488 mm)Vancouver (1199 mm)
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The Okanagan
Kelowna Water Providers
• Five purveyors– RWD: Groundwater– CITY: Lake– GEID: Upland + lake– BMID: Upland– SEKID: Upland +
ground
Kelowna Water Providers
• 2012/2013 Water RatesBMID SEKID GEID RWW CITY
Fixed $32.27 $38.00 $44.00 $15.44 $9.25
Rate | max $0.000 | 18.9 $0.322 | 30
$0.388 | 49.2 $0.433 | 80
$0.436 | 87.1 $0.657 | 125
$0.584 $1.134
40 m2 $32.27 $38.00 $44.00 $23.63 $29.34
Kelowna Water Providers
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Benefits of Conservation
• Dual Flush Toilet, – $200, two per house ($400 total)– Toilet, 29% of ~25 m3 / month indoor– Save $16.42 per year,– $328.40 @ 5% pays same!– NET RETURN NEGATIVE!!! BUT– Positive if replacing or
new build.
Benefits of Conservation
• Xeriscape, say 75% less outdoor water.– Save expensive peak water, ~$120 / yr• Depends on yard size, etc.
– Conversion cost, ~ $8/ft2
• 66x120 yard, ~30K convert
– $2,400 at 5% pays $120 / yr– NET RETURN NEGATIVE!!!
BUT– New yard, incremental cost
Benefits of Conservation
• Household perspective1. Save some money (CITY, RWD)– Not enough for replace, but maybe new install.– No savings if not priced (BMID, SEKID, GEID).
2. Avoid penalties or damage– Fine/cutoff if violate outdoor watering bans– Damage risk for sensitive plants
3. Doing good for community / environment.
Benefits of Conservation
• For utility, delay capital costs.– Delay $20M one year, save $400K interest (5%).– Kelowna, reduce average water use 2.5% per year,
‘buy’20 yrs.
Research Project
• Residential Survey:– Environmental attitudes– Okanagan water knowledge– Residence characteristics– Demographics– Conservation behaviors• Investments inside• Investments outside• Behaviors
Research Project
• Data collection– Canada411 address and phone number harvest,• Stratified by water provider and near borders.
– Telephone survey with internet option (2008),• 80% respondents chose internet!
– Mail survey with internet option (2009),– Forgot to ask responent age!• Follow up telephone contact.
– 516 returned surveys (337 with age).
Research Project
ConservationIndoor Conservation Investment
Count Percent
Tap Aerator 196 38
Low Flow Showerhead 366 71
Low Flow Toilet 294 57
Efficient Laundry Machine 245 47
Efficient Dish Washer 212 41
Greywater system 5 1
ConservationOutdoor Conservation Investment
Count Percent
Water Less 261 51
Low water grass 69 13
Moisture Probe 12 2
Timed Irrigation 356 69
Rain Barrel 61 12
Greywater System 2 0
Soil Amendment 200 39
Pool Cover 58 11
Gravel 164 32
Xeriscaping 134 26
ConservationConservation Behaviors
Count Percent
Scrape Dishes 257 50
Wash in Basin 203 39
Turn off tap while brushing teeth 414 80
Turn shower off when soaping up 74 14
If it is yellow, let it mellow, … 248 48
Use dishwasher when full 435 84
Use laundry machine when full 455 88
ConservationBMID SEKID GEID RWD CITY OTHER
In House 2.75 2.62 2.44 2.25 2.43 2.66
On Yard 2.52 2.59 2.51 2.69 2.49 2.80
Behavior 4.29 4.02 4.01 3.88 3.71 4.29
• No significant difference across providers– Measure total number of activities undertaken.
• What, no price effect!!!– Examine interactions– Examine ‘matched sample’.
Matched Samples
• Question: If I am near a border, do I act like people far from the border? ORIs my behavior influenced by behavior of people nearby who pay differently?
• Answer: Compare ‘similar’ people near and away from border.
Matched Samples
• Matching1. Near border = treat.2. Away = control3. For each near obs.,
find ‘similar’ far obs.4. Compare variables
of interest betweentreatment and control.
Matched Samples
• Comparing within, not between purveyors.– All in group face same rate.– All in group get same bills, other info from
purveyors.– Between purveyors, uncertain of cause• Price effect• Information campaign effect• Subsidy programs• Different rules (lawn watering, etc.)
Matched SamplesGroup Treatment Variable N Diff (N) P-value Diff (2N) P-Value
FLAT near PAY Inside 21 0.1818 0.6336 0.1905 0.4827
FLAT near PAY Outside 42 0.4545 0.3237 0.4808 0.2373
FLAT near PAY Behave 21 0.6818 0.1092 0.5476 0.0413
PAY near FLAT Inside 42 -0.5532 0.0626 -0.6047 0.0075
PAY near FLAT Outside 21 -0.2766 0.4504 -0.5233 0.0507
PAY near FLAT Behave 42 0.5319 0.1544 0.3488 0.1622
– Effect direction (mostly) consistent with price.– Existence consistent with social influence.– PRICE MATTERS AND NEIGHBOURS MATTER!
Implications
• Volumetric pricing has an influence– All else equal, 3 of 4 undertake one more
conservation activity indoor and one outdoor.• Neighbour effects powerful.– Price effect not dominant.
• Policy can use neighbour effect– Identify ‘good’ behavior and recognize locally– Provide comparison info vs good behavior.