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Water in the time of corona(virus): The effect of stay-at-home orders on water demand in the desert

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  • Irwin, Nicholas B.
  • McCoy, Shawn J.
  • McDonough, Ian K.

Abstract

In response to COVID-19, many U.S. states implemented stay-at-home orders to mitigate disease spread, causing radical changes across all facets of consumer behavior. In this paper, we explore how a stay-at-home (SAH) order impacted one aspect of behavior: the demand for water. Using a unique panel dataset of property-level water usage in Henderson, Nevada, we analyze changes in water usage from the SAH order, finding an initial and continuous decline in average daily usage for commercial and school users. In contrast, we find an initial increase in consumption by residential users with this effect increasing over time. Aggregated across all users, the SAH order led to an increase in net water usage between 32 and 59 million gallons over the first 30 days.

Suggested Citation

  • Irwin, Nicholas B. & McCoy, Shawn J. & McDonough, Ian K., 2021. "Water in the time of corona(virus): The effect of stay-at-home orders on water demand in the desert," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 109(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jeeman:v:109:y:2021:i:c:s009506962100067x
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jeem.2021.102491
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Water demand; COVID-19;

    JEL classification:

    • Q21 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Renewable Resources and Conservation - - - Demand and Supply; Prices
    • Q25 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Renewable Resources and Conservation - - - Water
    • R22 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Household Analysis - - - Other Demand

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