| To advance our understanding of municipal agency water conservation, this study poses two basic questions: (1) Why does agency per-capita water production vary? And, (2) How can municipal water conservation be improved? I examine 18 years (1980–98) of California DWR agency-level water production data, six agency case studies, a statewide municipal water conservation customer survey, water pricing and voting on a statewide water conservation ballot measure (Prop. 82, 1988). Water production and pricing data are analyzed using statistical regression, correlation, and paired t-tests. Agency case studies include agency record review and interviews with key agency employees. The dissertation also describes California water history, political institutions, and contemporary conservation efforts. Statistical findings include: metering had the greatest conservation effect, and regional differences in per-capita water production were statistically significant, while most other variable tests were inconclusive. Case study evidence reveals that water agency planning and rates are often based on incomplete cost-benefit analysis and that current municipal water prices are probably too low to motivate conservation behavior. Also, large, regional agencies play an important role in administering and financing conservation programs, and media conservation messages are under-utilized. Survey evidence suggests that agencies are not reaching all customers who want to participate in conservation programs. In addition to secondary policy recommendations, I make two primary recommendations for improving municipal water conservation: (1) change rates to reflect full cost accounting and, (2) attempt to better understand and cultivate “conservation-mindedness” among customers. |
