The Effect of Conservation on Residential Fresh Water Consumption: Evidence from Kuwait

Ahmad Alawadhi, Nadeem A. Burney, Ayele Gelan, Sheikha Al-Fulaij, Nadia Al-Musallam and Wafa Awadh
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Ahmad Alawadhi: Techno-Economic Division, Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research
Nadeem A. Burney: Techno-Economics Division - Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research
Sheikha Al-Fulaij: Techno-Economics Division - Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research
Nadia Al-Musallam: Techno-Economics Division - Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research
Wafa Awadh: Techno-Economics Division - Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research

Economia Internazionale / International Economics, 2021, vol. 74, issue 1, 47-82

Abstract: Based on data from a recently completed household survey, this paper reviewed households’ efforts to conserve freshwater in Kuwait and estimated a model for residential freshwater consumption to examine how conservation measures adopted by the households impacted their freshwater consumption. Given the country’s demographic composition and seasonal variations in water consumption, the model was estimated for three population groups (full sample, nationals only, and expatriate only) and three periods (annual, summer months, and winter months). Prior to estimating the model, tests were conducted to determine if the observed differences in consumption across the population groups were statistically different to warrant separate treatment of the groups. The survey data revealed that households in Kuwait made some efforts to conserve water by changing habits and practices. The impact of conservation measures reported to be adopted by the households on consumption was mixed, underscoring the need for stronger efforts to promote conservation and check growth in consumption. L’effetto della preservazione dell’acqua potabile ad uso domestico: evidenze dal Kuwait Sulla base dei dati raccolti da una recente indagine presso le famiglie, questo articolo ha esaminato i tentativi di preservazione dell’acqua potabile ad uso domestico in Kuwait ed ha stimato un modello di consumo familiare per analizzare come queste misure per il contenimento adottate dalle famiglie hanno influenzato il consumo di acqua potabile. Considerando la composizione demografica del paese e le variazioni stagionali nei consumi idrici, il modello è stato stimato per tre gruppi di popolazioni (campione completo, solo nativi e solo espatriati) e per tre periodi (annuale, mesi estivi e mesi invernali). Prima di applicare il modello sono stati effettuati test per determinare se le differenze rilevate nei consumi tra i gruppi di popolazione fossero statisticamente differenti al fine di garantire un trattamento separato dei gruppi. I dati dell’indagine hanno evidenziato che le famiglie in Kuwait si impegnano per preservare l’acqua potabile cambiando le loro abitudini e modi di agire. L’impatto delle misure conservative che dovrebbero essere adottate dalle famigllie si è rivelato confuso, sottolineando la necessità di maggiori sforzi per promuovere il risparmio idrico e controllare la crescita dei consumi.

Keywords: Consumption; Conservation; Freshwater; Households; Nationals; Expatriates (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C12 C13 C31 D12 Q25 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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