Economic and Financial Tools

Overall, few utilities are utilising any formal economic or financial tools to promote water conservation (see Figure 7). The most widely used tool – analysis and study of universal metering or metering pilot – is employed by just 1 in 3 utilities surveyed, and is being considered by just over 1 in 4. Other tools employed include cost / benefit analysis, assessment of pricing structures, and service charges. While assessing pricing structures is not currently widespread, nearly half of utilities surveyed (46%) do appear to be considering implementing this in the future.