Drought response measures in dampening urban demand Available to Purchase

From 1997 to 2009, much of Australia experienced an extended drought that severely tested the drought response procedures put in place. These included a number of measures designed to achieve lasting potable demand reduction from urban consumers, such as the introduction of permanent water-saving measures, changes to building regulations, potable substitution schemes, education programmes, rebates for water-efficient appliances and private rainwater tanks, and behaviour change programmes. This paper illustrates that demand reductions of around 35% have been achieved over an 11-year period in Australia's state or territory capital cities as a result of demand management measures implemented during the ‘millennium drought'. While it is difficult to attribute this reduction to individual measures, it has been inferred in this paper from available data that the most effective measures in reducing demand were temporary water restrictions, permanent water-saving measures, behaviour change programmes, changing building regulations, water efficiency labelling, and increased education and awareness. Water rebates proved relatively ineffective in encouraging the uptake of water-saving devices and, although highly utilised in the drought, potable substitution measures from non-potable sources have not yielded ongoing demand reductions after the end of the drought. This information can help the UK to design its portfolio of demand reduction measures so that it is less vulnerable to drought.