Prácticas de ahorro de agua de los hogares ecuatorianos y sus determinantes

Abstract

Abstract: Rapid population growth, lifestyles and overconsumption are exacerbating existing water stress, making it imperative to improve household water efficiency and reduce per capita consumption. A crucial tool is understanding household water use patterns and, above all, water saving practices, as well as the factors that influence them. Under this context, the present research was proposed with the objective of analyzing the determinants of the water saving practices of Ecuadorian households during 2018. For which, data from 12,313 households from the 2018 Environmental Practices Module of the National Institute of Statistics and Censuses (INEC). Through the application of a binary logistic regression model - LOGIT, it was possible to conclude that economic variables (such as income), social (number of children, age, home ownership), demographic (area), cognitive (environmental training ) and infrastructure (form of water supply) significantly influence the water saving practices of Ecuadorian households. Based on these results, some policy implications could focus on environmental training and the supply of water in homes through a public network as mechanisms for the application of environmental policies that help to encourage water-saving practices and therefore decrease consumption.