Urban water security: Assessing the impacts of metering and pricing in Aotearoa New Zealand

Thomas Benison (thomas.benison@motu.org.nz) and Julia Talbot-Jones (julia.talbotjones@vuw.ac.nz)
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Thomas Benison: Motu Economic and Public Policy Research
Julia Talbot-Jones: Victoria University of Wellington

No 23_11, Working Papers from Motu Economic and Public Policy Research

Abstract: With urbanisation and climate change placing increasing pressure on water security around the world, demand-side mechanisms, such as metering and pricing, have emerged as core components of urban water management. Yet the impacts of metering and pricing on water production and consumption in Aotearoa New Zealand are not well understood. This constrains the ability of decision-makers to make targeted wellbeing improvements for the communities they serve. In this paper, we endeavour to estimate the impact of metering and pricing on urban water consumption in Aotearoa. We collect data on residential water production and consumption from 67 local councils and provide comparisons of water use across regions and over time, with particular attention given to Tauranga and Wellington. Our experience reveals the extent of the drinking water data gaps in urban areas in Aotearoa, raising questions about how evidence is being used to inform the design of urban water policy in Aotearoa and issues of public accountability.

Keywords: Data gaps; demand management; drinking water; metering; policy; pricing (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q21 Q25 Q28 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 38 pages
Date: 2023-10
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-env, nep-reg and nep-ure
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