March 2006 – Factors Influencing Water Resources Management
- Factors Influencing Residential Water Consumption for the City of Phoenix, Arizona
Elizabeth Wentz, Associate Professor, Department of Geography, Arizona State University
- Water Resource Management Priorities for Central Arizona Water Experts
L. Robin Keller, Professor, Operations and Decision Technologies; University of California, Irvine
Craig Kirkwood, Professor, Department of Supply Chain Management/Department of Management/Department of Decision and Information Systems, W. P. Carey School of Business
Factors Influencing Residential Water Consumption for the City of Phoenix, Arizona
Continued population growth and the associated process of urbanization in the desert
city of Phoenix, Arizona will require a reliable source of water for its residents.
Although the city currently has an inexpensive and abundant supply of water, it is
imperative that the city faces the challenge associated with providing continued
safe drinking water. To better understand the demand side of this important water
issue, Dr. Wentz and Dr. Patricia Gober explored the relationship between detached
single-family residential water demand and the factors influencing water demand.
The authors found that household size, presence of pools, mesic landscaping style,
lot size, and the influence of neighbors are the most likely determinants of water
consumption. By increasing understanding of water usage determinants, the authors
hope to provide tools through which Phoenix can better protect water for future use.
Water Resource Management Priorities for Central Arizona Water Experts
Results will be presented from a survey of Central Arizona water experts that addressed
water planning factors and important forthcoming water management decisions and policy
recommendations. The experts were asked for their priorities among approximately thirty
specific concerns within the seven categories of Central Arizona socio-economic impacts,
financial and technical requirements, health and safety, impacts on the natural/biophysical
environment, indirect/external impacts, political impacts & governance, and sufficiency of
water supplies. Responses were obtained from experts in policy, planning, engineering,
hydrology, and other fields within governmental, private sector, and interest group
organizations. The results show areas of agreement and disagreement among stakeholders,
as well as some priorities that may have implications for the role of the Decision
Center for a Desert City.
Announcement (48K pdf)
Wentz (1M pdf)
Keller & Kirkwood (155K pdf)
Download the audio file (6M DSS file)
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