Estimating urban residential water demand determinants and forecasting water demand for Athens metropolitan area, 2000-2010

Abstract

Aiming at sustainable water resources management and use, the current water policy requires an essential analysis of water demand formulation and evolution. In this context, the present paper considers the city of Athens in Greece, where domestic water use is analyzed, estimated and forecasted. The policy-relevant variables, mainly income and water prices, are systematically considered and their effects on water demand are appraised. The study concludes that a drastic increase in water demand induced by increasing income will occur, while the economic instruments have little potential to influence water use.