Title: Urban water consumption in water-stressed areas of the developed world: an examination of multiple interrelated variables

Authors: Alvaro-Francisco Morote; María Hernández; Saeid Eslamian

Addresses: Interuniversity Institute of Geography, University of Alicante, Carretera de Sant Vicent del Raspeig, s/n – Apartado 99, (03080), Alicante, Spain ' Interuniversity Institute of Geography, University of Alicante, Carretera de Sant Vicent del Raspeig, s/n – Apartado 99, (03080), Alicante, Spain ' Department of Water Engineering, College of Agriculture, Isfahan University of Technology, 8415683111, Isfahan, Iran

Abstract: The developed world has witnessed significant land changes since the second half of the 20th century. These include a process of intensive urban development, which is also accompanied by the growth in the urban population and housing. One of the outcomes of this process has been an increase in the consumption of resources, including water. The aim of this paper is to identify and analyse the factors affecting water consumption and the areas studied in water-stressed regions of the developed world. A literature review of territorial studies examining the factors that affect urban water consumption in these areas was conducted methodologically. The results reveal that: a) a significant number of papers have been written on water consumption factors in areas where there is substantial urban growth; and b) North America and Australia, have been compared to the rest of the developed world (especially Southern Europe), recently (since 2000s) due to the expansion of the low-density urbanism in the last few years.

Keywords: water; urban; factors; consumption; water-stressed areas; developed world.

DOI: 10.1504/IJHST.2019.102907

International Journal of Hydrology Science and Technology, 2019 Vol.9 No.5, pp.431 - 456

Received: 11 Aug 2016
Accepted: 25 Mar 2017

Published online: 11 Oct 2019 *

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