Water Management in Urban Sprawl Typologies in the City of Alicante (Southern Spain): New Trends and Perception after the Economic Crisis?
Abstract
:1. Introduction
- (a)
- Technological innovation associated with installing new water-efficient appliances as well as water saving devices at home (taps, bathroom fittings, etc.), which have become popular since the late 1990s [22].
- (b)
- Greater environmental awareness among the populace about saving water, thanks to more organized campaigns, especially in times of drought [23,38]. Interesting results have been obtained in the studies about the reduction of water consumption outdoors. In recent years, homeowners have greater environmental awareness. This becomes obvious, for example, in the typology of their gardens, where native species that adapt better to the local environment and require less water are becoming more popular. This was confirmed in a study by Morote and Hernández [39], who reported a change among homeowners from having central and northern European to Mediterranean-type gardens, which adapt better to the climate of the southeast Spanish coast.
- (c)
- The economic crisis has led to a drastic fall in incomes and increased unemployment. One of the strategies used in response to this significant downturn has been to cut back on all domestic consumption, including water, especially among the middle classes [22].
- (d)
- Water rates and prices have increased at a time when family incomes have dwindled.
- (e)
- The efficiency of the Water Company supply networks has improved.
- (f)
- Drinking water has been replaced by non-conventional water sources (reclaimed water and rainwater) for public water, private gardens (in some residential areas) and street cleaning [40].
- (g)
- An aging population. Morote et al. [11] observed that one of the reasons behind the drop in domestic water consumption along the Mediterranean coastline was the increase in the senior population and the loss of a younger population due to migration that was prompted by the economic crisis, which erupted in 2007. These authors reported that a person aged 65 or more consumes 25% less water than the previous population segment (18 to 64 years).
2. Study Area, Materials and Methods
2.1. Period and Study Area
2.2. Water Data
2.3. Questionnaire Development and Distribution
2.4. Potential and Limitations
3. Results
3.1. Urban Sprawl and Water Consumption in the Beach Sector of the City of Alicante: A Development Type Characterized by High Levels of Water Consumption
3.2. Change of Perception, Management and Water Consumption in Detached Houses
4. Discussion
5. Conclusions
Author Contributions
Funding
Acknowledgments
Conflicts of Interest
References
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Population over 18 Years of Age | % of Representativeness | Surveys Necessary (no.) | Surveys Conducted (no.) | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Urban core | 227,882 | 81.71 | 219 | 142 |
Block of Flats | 27,031 | 9.69 | 27 | 79 |
Terraced houses | 14,292 | 4.30 | 11 | 40 |
Detached houses | 14,292 | 4.30 | 11 | 48 |
Total | 273,044 | 100 | 268 | 309 |
Variable | % | |
---|---|---|
Age (years) | 18–25 | 8.33 |
26–34 | 6.25 | |
35–54 | 35.42 | |
55–75 | 16.67 | |
>75 | 33.33 | |
Employment | Student | 14.58 |
Employee | 52.08 | |
Unemployed | 0 | |
Retired | 33.33 | |
Level of Education | No studies | 0 |
Primary education | 33.33 | |
Secondary education | 27.08 | |
Higher education | 39.58 | |
Average income per household (€/month) | <600 | 0 |
601–1200 | 0 | |
1201–1800 | 0 | |
1801–3000 | 33.33 | |
3001–4500 | 41.67 | |
>4500 | 25.00 |
Variable | % | |
---|---|---|
Plot size | Building | 13.7 |
Garden | 35.13 | |
Vegetable plot | 5.44 | |
Swimming pool | 2.24 | |
Paved area | 31.35 | |
Other | 12.55 | |
Changes to the property | Yes | 33.33 |
No | 66.67 | |
Supply sources | Public network | 100 |
Well (groundwater) | 0 | |
Rainwater tank | 0 | |
Reclaimed water | 0 | |
Perception of the use of reclaimed water | Very positive | 0 |
Positive | 0 | |
Indifferent | 100 | |
Negative | 0 | |
Very negative | 0 |
Variable | No. of Responses | % | |
---|---|---|---|
Comparison with previous bills | Yes | 32 | 66.67 |
No | 16 | 33.33 | |
Installation of Smart meter | Yes | 32 | 66.67 |
No | 16 | 33.33 | |
Awareness regarding water saving | Very aware | 8 | 16.67 |
Moderately aware | 40 | 83.33 | |
Slightly aware | 0 | 0 | |
Not at all aware | 0 | 0 | |
Perception of the consumption trend | It has decreased | 0 | 0 |
It has remained the same | 24 | 50 | |
It has increased | 8 | 16.67 | |
Don’t know | 16 | 33.33 | |
Impact of water-saving measures | Very positive | 0 | 0 |
Positive | 24 | 50 | |
Indifferent | 0 | 0 | |
Negative | 0 | 0 | |
Very negative | 0 | 0 | |
Don’t know | 24 | 50 |
Consumption Blocks | 2007 | 2009 | 2011 | 2013 | 2017 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
From 0 to 9 m3 per quarter * | 0.02 | 0.02 | 0.02 | 0.02 | 0.01 |
From 10 to 30 m3 per quarter * | 0.43 | 0.49 | 0.49 | 0.53 | 0.69 |
From 31 to 60 m3 per quarter | 1.3 | 1.52 | 1.63 | 1.76 | 1.76 |
61 m3 per quarter and over | 1.63 | 1.92 | 2.18 | 2.36 | 2.36 |
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Morote, Á.-F.; Olcina, J.; Rico, A.-M.; Hernández, M. Water Management in Urban Sprawl Typologies in the City of Alicante (Southern Spain): New Trends and Perception after the Economic Crisis? Urban Sci. 2019, 3, 7. https://doi.org/10.3390/urbansci3010007
Morote Á-F, Olcina J, Rico A-M, Hernández M. Water Management in Urban Sprawl Typologies in the City of Alicante (Southern Spain): New Trends and Perception after the Economic Crisis? Urban Science. 2019; 3(1):7. https://doi.org/10.3390/urbansci3010007
Chicago/Turabian StyleMorote, Álvaro-Francisco, Jorge Olcina, Antonio-Manuel Rico, and María Hernández. 2019. "Water Management in Urban Sprawl Typologies in the City of Alicante (Southern Spain): New Trends and Perception after the Economic Crisis?" Urban Science 3, no. 1: 7. https://doi.org/10.3390/urbansci3010007