Revision #8Recommend a SolutionFork
People rarely know how much water they are using. Water bills, in some jurisdictions, do provide the data on how much water a household consumed and the corresponding amount of money they owe to the respective water utility. However, this information is never as transparent or enticing enough to persuade households to use less water, beyond the economic advantages of doing so. We propose an app be created that seeks collaboration and support with water utilities to provide information on how residential water demand fluctuates season by season. From a climate change adaptation point of view, people will be able to see (and with some public education) interpret the varying degrees of water demand being placed on the water system. People will start adapting to climate change when they receive enough information about the benefits of doing so.
Example:
In the summer months, there is presumably more demand on the system due to drier weather, outdoor activities that require water use or worse yet, droughts that plague various geographies. This tool/app can be“city water reader” providing information and illustrations to interested parties about the water system of their city. With more information about the frequency of drier events and the impact this has on the water system, people can respond rationally through making investments in water saving technology to save costs on water bills, assuming their households are metered.
User Stories:
Households generally do not like paying for every unit of water consumed. However, the pricing is in place for particular reasons such as encouraging water conservation. When people start to see the actual impact and water demand being placed on their city’s or jurisdiction’s water system, they may start to better understand why prices are being raised in the drier seasons or why water use restrictions are being enforced.
Constraints:
The major constraint in developing this app would be through the reluctance of water utilities to share the data through open source technology.
Problem Definition Category:
Event:
Comments
One thought the Seattle team
Aggregating city water data?
Clarify data request. It
Clarify data request. It would be useful to participating utilities - your data providers - to know what specific information is required for this application. I am confident that many would be willing to share data.. and perhaps publicize the app.. especially if the goal is to better inform their customers.