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Urban water security: Assessing the impacts of metering and pricing in Aotearoa New Zealand

Author

Listed:
  • Thomas Benison

    (Motu Economic and Public Policy Research)

  • Julia Talbot-Jones

    (Victoria University of Wellington)

Abstract

With urbanisation and climate change placing increasing pressure on water security around the world, demand-side mechanisms, such as metering and pricing, have emerged as core components of urban water management. Yet the impacts of metering and pricing on water production and consumption in Aotearoa New Zealand are not well understood. This constrains the ability of decision-makers to make targeted wellbeing improvements for the communities they serve. In this paper, we endeavour to estimate the impact of metering and pricing on urban water consumption in Aotearoa. We collect data on residential water production and consumption from 67 local councils and provide comparisons of water use across regions and over time, with particular attention given to Tauranga and Wellington. Our experience reveals the extent of the drinking water data gaps in urban areas in Aotearoa, raising questions about how evidence is being used to inform the design of urban water policy in Aotearoa and issues of public accountability.

Suggested Citation

  • Thomas Benison & Julia Talbot-Jones, 2023. "Urban water security: Assessing the impacts of metering and pricing in Aotearoa New Zealand," Working Papers 23_11, Motu Economic and Public Policy Research.
    • Handle: RePEc:mtu:wpaper:23_11
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    File URL: https://motu-www.motu.org.nz/wpapers/23_11.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Hoffmann, Mark & Worthington, Andrew & Higgs, Helen, 2006. "Urban water demand with fixed volumetric charging in a large municipality: the case of Brisbane, Australia," Australian Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Australian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society, vol. 50(3), pages 1-13, September.
    2. Steven Hendrik Andreas Koop & Sharon Helena Pascale Clevers & Elisabeth Johanna Maria Blokker & Stijn Brouwer, 2021. "Public Attitudes towards Digital Water Meters for Households," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-19, June.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Data gaps; demand management; drinking water; metering; policy; pricing;
    All these keywords.

    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
    • Q28 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Renewable Resources and Conservation - - - Government Policy

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