Household responsiveness to water demand management incentives in Windhoek, Namibia

Water demand management is seen as a useful tool for curbing luxury water demand, improving efficiency and increasing awareness about water scarcity. In this paper, the response by households to pricing and information, as part of water demand management, in both the formal and informal areas of Windhoek is analysed. The results imply that the effectiveness of block tariffs is overestimated when applied to middle and high income areas. Instead urban lifestyle and accessibility to water dominates behavioural patterns at a certain consumption level. In addition, information about water scarcity was adapted among most households in the squatter areas.