Abstract

abstract:

We examine factors associated with participation in city-sponsored water conservation initiatives and beliefs about the importance of water conservation among residents in a midsized Great Plains city, using results from a drop-off/pick-up survey. Long threatened by insufficient municipal water resources, the City of Hays has served as a regional leader in water conservation efforts in western Kansas, providing opportunities for residents to participate in programs intended to promote sustainable use of water resources and offering financial incentives to increase participation in select programs. We assess the relationship between residents’ perceptions of the importance of water conservation and their engagement in various water conservation behaviors, including the use of water-saving devices in their households and participation in city-sponsored incentive programs. By distinguishing between everyday water-saving behaviors and installation of water-efficient household devices and landscaping features, our analysis suggests that conservation beliefs are limited in motivating conservation behaviors, butting up against financial barriers that discourage respondents in our study from investing in costlier (and more effective) measures to reduce household water demand.

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