WRRC brown bag: The surprising slide in domestic demand

Gary Woodard, a Senior Water Policy and Economics Consultant with M&A, is scheduled to present a brown bag at the UA’s Water Resources Research Center (WRRC) on March 11, from 12:00–1:30 pm. In part because of his work on several large water-demand forecasting projects at M&A, Woodard has determined that demand is no longer tightly tied to population, economic output, or quality of life, and that the downward trends are expected to continue through this decade.

The talk, entitled “The surprising slide in domestic demand: Be careful what you wish for,” focuses on the declines in municipal water demand in the Southwest, which have occurred over the past 30 years for both indoor and outdoor uses. Because this declining trend has often exceeded population growth, utilities are now delivering less water to more people. Woodard will discuss the factors that have profoundly affected demand — higher efficiency standards for appliances and fixtures, the declining appeal of turf and pools, the growing interest in sustainability, and shifting household demographics. He will also discuss the consequences of this trend and their implications for those who were planning for growing — not declining — demands.

The WRRC now offers remote access to brown bag seminars via GoToWebinar. To log in remotely (10 minutes prior to the event, to allow download time), click here.

Note: This talk has been rescheduled from its original date, which was March 3.

The WRRC Sol Resnick Conference Room is located at 350 N. Campbell Avenue in Tucson.