Promoting water conservation habits in shower use: review of water utility websites in OECD cities

Abstract

Personal hygiene accounts for 30–45% of water use in households in Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries, and of this water, the greatest proportion is used for showering. More efficient showers can be achieved by using efficient technologies – mainly efficient showerheads – as well as through the adoption of sustainable habits, such as reducing shower frequency and duration. A review of the websites of water utilities in cities of OECD countries shows little effort to promote water-saving shower habits. Addressing this shortcoming would improve the sustainability of water use, compared with the current focus on efficient technologies.