Residential Water Conservation and the Rebound Effect: A Temporal Decomposition and Investigation

Water conservation in California has been a major subject of concern for agencies their efforts to satisfy residential demand while coping with frequent shortfalls, especially periods drought. During the 2012–2016 severe drought California, state enacted mandate that imposed specific targets 4% up 36% water utilities. While utilities met those 2015, use, on average, slowly crept or rebounded subsequently, although not pre-drought levels. Understanding manner and degree which use rebounds can be critically important planning investment decisions. Using unique panel dataset single-family by nearly 20,000 customers Northern agency from 2013 2019, this paper explores magnitude character rebound effect occurred after cessation statewide was response enveloping 2014 through 2016. Our results suggest presence significant use—of approximately 9% average—after ended. Yet, novel our research, we find heterogeneity effects across seasons users, greater warm season months relative other among lower households higher households. also shift earlier day once lifted. variation both temporally different types users useful make informed decisions surrounding investments, management, messaging drought, conservation, scarcity.