ABSTRACT

There is little recognition in policy of existing adaptive capacities and experiments with alternate water systems in the Global North. Households that are self-sufficient for water present a space in which alternative relationships between water, comfort and convenience manifest. This article presents insights from a survey completed by 209 households that are self-sufficient for water in the Eurobodalla Shire, in regional New South Wales, Australia. The survey sought to understand practices, experiences, and perceptions of people who take responsibility for managing the capture, storage, consumption, and disposal of water at home. We found that most respondents rely on household-collected rainwater for all domestic purposes. Most drink rainwater, and many drink rainwater untreated. Respondents identified challenges of self-sufficiency, including running out of water, and infrastructure maintenance and failure. Notwithstanding these challenges, most respondents indicated that they enjoy living in a water self-sufficient home and would do so again in future. Most respondents moved to their non-mains water home for reasons other than being in control of water; adapting to water self-sufficiency was therefore a necessity rather than a choice. The results of this survey are significant as the water sector looks to diversify sources of domestic water to better adapt to uncertain futures.

摘要

全球北方现有的适应能力和替代水系统实验的政策几乎没有得到认可。水自给自足的家庭提供了一个空间，其中水、舒适和便利之间的替代关系得以体现。本文介绍了来自澳大利亚新南威尔士州地区 Eurobodalla Shire 的 209 户自给自足水的家庭完成的调查的见解。该调查旨在了解负责管理家庭水的收集、储存、消费和处置的人们的做法、经验和看法。我们发现大多数受访者的所有家庭用途都依赖家庭收集的雨水。大多数人饮用雨水，许多人饮用未经处理的雨水。受访者指出自给自足的挑战，包括缺水、基础设施维护和故障。尽管面临这些挑战，大多数受访者表示他们喜欢住在水自给自足的家中，将来还会这样做。大多数受访者搬到他们的非自来水家是出于控制水以外的原因；因此，适应水的自给自足是一种必要，而不是一种选择。这项调查的结果意义重大，因为水务部门希望使生活用水来源多样化，以更好地适应不确定的未来。大多数受访者搬到他们的非自来水家是出于控制水以外的原因；因此，适应水的自给自足是一种必要，而不是一种选择。这项调查的结果意义重大，因为水务部门希望使生活用水来源多样化，以更好地适应不确定的未来。大多数受访者搬到他们的非自来水家是出于控制水以外的原因；因此，适应水的自给自足是一种必要，而不是一种选择。这项调查的结果意义重大，因为水务部门希望使生活用水来源多样化，以更好地适应不确定的未来。