Residential water demand in saskatchewan communities: Role played by block pricing system in water conservation

Abstract

Water demand characteristics of households in various-sized communities are estimated in this study using cross-section data for 50 communities located in southwestern Saskatchewan. Communities differed with respect to frequency of billing, as well as pricingstructure; increasing block, decreasing block or uniform rate (flatrate, no charge). Seasonality of water demand was also identified. Response of consumers to a price change was less for those billed on a quarterly or tri-annual basis than for those who were billed ona monthly or annual basis. Results also suggest that an institutionof increasing block pricing system would result in a decrease in water demand by 10 percent, and therefore, should be worthy of consideration as a potential measure for water conservation. © 1996 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.