ESTIMATING THE SAVINGS FROM WATER RESTRICTIONS IN SYDNEY

摘要

Drought restrictions applied in Sydney from October 2003 to June 2009. This paper analyses the reduction in demand from restrictions using a model of water demand that combines seasonal decomposition and multivariate regression. The model allows one to estimate what demand would have been without restrictions, taking into account customer growth, weather conditions and water conservation activities other than restrictions. Annual reductions in demand associated with level 1, 2 and 3 restrictions were about 12%, 16% and 17% of the estimated unrestricted demand.