Diffusion of Household Water Conservation Technology in a Gulf State: Implications for Water and Energy Demand

Since 1970 there has been sustained growth in Kuwait’s water demand, met by supply-side management associated with adverse economic and environmental implications. Demand side management is critical to a sustainable water future but removing subsidies is constrained by political realities. Therefore, this study explores the potential of technology-based conservation measures, addressing seven household water uses, in reducing demand. A population microsimulation coupled with a water micro-components model is used to forecast demand to 2050, which with its growing population, increases 32%. Demand is then ‘backcast’ against a 2050 ‘no new water’ target, and two progressively more challenging targets. The technology transition pathways that emerge reveal the potential of technology measures, including that the ‘no new water’ target could be achieved just through targeting household showering, so long as near universal uptake of water efficient showers can be achieved. Doing so would deliver major reduction in water production cost and carbon emission from desalination. Although technology-based measures are likely to be more politically acceptable than pricing measures, the social acceptability of efficient devices, and the risk of rebound effect is not known, particularly with respect to the relatively small group of citizens in villa dwellings that account for 70% of demand.