The role of nature contact and connectedness to nature as determinants of household water use: A case study from Spain

In: Water and environment journal, Volume 36, Issue 2, p. 282-291

Abstract

AbstractOne of the targets of Sustainable Development Goal 6 is to increase water use efficiency in all sectors. In the domestic sphere, water consumption is largely conditioned by the habits and behaviour of individuals. In this study, we investigate for the first time the influence of connectedness to and contact with nature on five different uses of water at home. Using ordered probit regressions with a sample of 874 students from the University of Granada (Spain), we found that connectedness to nature and nature contact is positively or non‐significantly related to different dimensions of water efficiency. The results indicate that in order to encourage pro‐environmental water use habits at home, efforts should be made to develop an ecocentric vision in schools and to promote school trips to explore and understand the nearest natural areas. These policies should be adapted to a wider international context as a way of addressing the global problem of water scarcity.