Why do people save water? A systematic review of household water consumption behaviour in times of water availability uncertainty

Abstract

ABSTRACT Continued global warming is projected to increase the severity of droughts, and, as water scarcity intensifies in different regions, water demand-side management (DSM) has emerged as an important topic. In this study, we present an overview of recent research on the factors that influence water consumption behaviour, considering the scenario of global water availability changes. To do so, we reviewed 55 articles, published from 2010 to 2022, that focused on water consumption behaviour in a drought context. In the reviewed articles, we identified six factors that are most frequently addressed in the literature: psychological factors, water-saving technologies, awareness, water availability context, socioeconomic/demographic characteristics, and governmental policies. Based on the analysis of the findings in the literature regarding these factors, we developed an integrated framework that clarifies how they are interconnected and influence household water consumption.