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Corresponding Author:
Ahmad Alawadhi, Techno-Economic Division, Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research

Coauthors:
Nadeem A. Burney, Techno-Economics Division, Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research
Ayele Gelan, 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

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

Volume 74 - Issue 1, February 2021
(pp. 47-82)
JEL classification: C12, C13, C31, D12, Q25
Keywords: Consumption, Conservation, Freshwater, Households, Nationals, Expatriates

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. 


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Institute for International Economics
of the Genoa Chamber of Commerce


Istituto di Economia Internazionale
Camera di Commercio di Genova
Via Garibaldi, 4 (III piano) - 16124 Genova (Italy)
www.ge.camcom.gov.it