A database search string (see Appendix 1) was created following a number of iterations that was tested for the number and relevance of their results. The aim was to achieve a balance between the number of relevant documents provided in the search output (and the filtering effort this implied) and certainty that no key documents were excluded. The search was conducted in the months between February and April 2017 and a list of results across databases was compiled to be filtered and reviewed. A small number of additional documents, suggested by experts and interviewees, were incorporated later in the review process where relevant (see Step 8 in Table 3 below). Filtering and initial review The screening and filtering of the search results following the JWEG guidance included a multiple step approach with each step of the process being clearly documented and presented in Table 3. Table 3: Filtering and screening steps Steps in filtering and screening of results Number of Documents Search results combined across databases 603 Duplicates removed 538 (remaining) Screen 1: Inclusion / Exclusion criteria manually applied 146 (remaining) Additional literature proposed by experts screened based on inclusion / exclusion criteria 49 (additional) Results of steps 3 & 4 combined 195 Screen 2: Literature tagged based on the review of abstract as clearly relevant, uncertain, uncertain – metering, clearly irrelevant Screen 3: Only the ‘Clearly relevant‘ documents were taken forward to the analysis and synthesis 67 additions: Through snowballing reviewers identified and added seven documents in cases where more recent or complete publications were found or very relevant documents were identified. This resulted in a total of 74 documents. 74
Information provision Information provision refers to the provision of information to customers across all aspects of water efficiency that is given passively i.e. without interaction or feedback. It is sometimes used on its own but most frequently in conjunction with other behaviour change approaches such as retrofitting or water metering /price signals. Of the papers reviewed six only had information provision, with the other 16 all linked to other intervention components. The types of information provided ranged from leaflets explaining how to fit water saving devices to accompany water saving kits, adverts for roadshows to promote water saving activities, information on websites around how to save water with associated branding, feedback on consumption via emails/letters, smart meters and eco-labelling. Figure 8 gives an example from the Essex and Suffolk Water Website. Box 1 presents a list of Top Tips for water saving and energy use (Energy Saving Trust and Waterwise, 2011). Figure 9 is an example of a flier given out to invite people to a “Water Day” to raise awareness of water efficiency and Box 2 gives an example of feedback and awareness-raising information provided by the water company to customers to encourage behaviour change. Figure 8: Information from Essex and Suffolk Water website - water saving tips Box 1: Top Tip list from EU life project Change the head If a four person family replaces their inefficient shower head with a high flow rate to a water efficient one they could save around £50 off their gas bills and around £75 off their water bills if they have a water meter each year. That’s a total saving of £125. Snub the tub If everybody in a four person family replaces one bath a week with a 5 minute shower they can save up to £10 a year on energy and up to £25 on water bills if they had a water meter. Fill `em up! Make sure that your dishwashers and washing machines are full before putting them on and always use the most water and energy efficient settings. When it's time to replace your appliance, look for Energy Saving Recommended logo. Products with this logo will save both energy and water. Suds law Using a bowl to wash up twice a day rather than leaving the hot tap running could save around £25 a year on a household's gas bill and around £25 on your water bill if you have a water meter.
noted that these refer to different time periods and sample sizes (sub-samples of the total sample) and therefore should only be seen as indications and not as directly comparable. Table 20: Decrease in water consumption attributed to the switch to metering Time / Billing period Decrease in water consumption Average decrease in consumption Anticipation effect 1st month of meter installation (3 months prior to switch to metered bills) (baseline) 12.5% - 16.5% (depending on the method of calculation) 2nd month after installation (2 months to switch to metered bills) -37 litres 3rd after installation (1 month prior to switch to metered bills) -50 litres Switch effect 1st bill (6 months after switch) (Switch to metered account) -34 litres 13.5% 2nd bill (12 months after switch) - 43 litres 3rd bill (18 months after switch) - 47 litres 4th bill (24 months switch) - 51 litres 5th bill (30 months after switch) - 50 litres Information effect In conjunction with meter installation No significant effect of information campaigns (preliminary results comparing households with new meters with households in the area with existing meters that experienced the same information campaign as with meters) The average decrease in consumption attributed to the installation is a 13.5% reduction in the water consumption of an average household (from 373 to 323 litres) in the two and a half year period following the meter installation. Research Works (2016) on behalf of the Consumer Council for Water and Southern Water in their qualitative study of customers’ experiences of universal metering found that the impact of water saving advice alongside metering was limited. Whilst metered customers felt that their meter had made them more conscious of their water consumption, this heightened awareness of water use had not consistently translated into a change in water trial
Omamabala, I. 2010 Evidence base for Water Efficiency Phase II Interim Report 2.2 2.0 Omambala, I., Russell, N., Tompkins, J., Bremner, S., Millar, R., Rathouse K. and Cooper, M. 2011 Evidence Base for Large-scale Water Efficiency Phase II Final Report 2.2 1.9 Ornaghi, C. and Tonin, M. 2015 The Effect of Metering on Water Consumption - Policy Note 2.6 2.1 Owen, L., Bramley, H. and Tocock, J. 2009 Public Understanding of Sustainable Water Use in the Home 2.0 1.9 Parker, J.M. and R.L. 2012 Quantifying Household Water Demand: A Review of Theory and Practice in the UK 2.6 2.5 Phipps, D., Alkhaddar, R. and Stiller M. 2013 Water saving in domestic car washing 1.4 - Phipps, D.A. and Alkhaddar, R. 2013 Personal behavior, technological advance - the domestic use of water in a consumer society 1.7 1.0 Phipps, D.A. and Alkhaddar, R. 2014 Compulsion, Coercion, and Cooperation: Consumer Attitudes to Domestic Water Efficiency 1.7 1.0 Pinto, F.S. and Marques, R.C. 2015 Tariff structures for water and sanitation urban households: A primer 1.0 - Ponsonby, K., Ahumada, A.G. and Dadd, H. 2014 Database integration and statistical analysis of and ecoBETA studies. Stage 3. 3.0 2.0 Pullinger, M., Anderson, B., Browne, A.L. and Medd, W. 2013 New directions in understanding household water demand: A practices perspective 2.6 2.5 Pullinger, M., Browne, A., Anderson, B. and Medd, W. 2013 Patterns of The water related practices of households in southern England, and their influence on water consumption and demand management 2.2 2.9
Millennium Green housing project Sim et al., 2005 Involved the development of 24 homes supplied with rain water (for washing machines, toilet flushing and gardening use) from underground storage tanks. The development also incorporated water efficient devices such as shower units, dual flush toilets and aerated taps. Data for this development has shown a 50% reduction in mains water consumption. Project (FP7 EU) Wang and Capiluppi, 2015 A specialised social network (SSN) platform is provided to increase water consumption awareness and improve household water use efficiency. The SSN allows users to interact with the communities via a range of activities such as i) sharing water bill with friends, ii) monitoring municipal water use statistics, iii) asking and answering water use questions, and iv) entering competitions. A ‘reward store’ of points, badges and other virtual objects, plays a key role in the platform’s design. Users can interact with the system through application(s) on their mobile phone or by using a web browser.