Understanding changes in household water consumption associated with Covid-19

This research project aims to understand how domestic water use has changed since the beginning of Covid-19 lockdown in England and Wales in March 2020. The research project takes an interdisciplinary perspective building on quantitative evidence of changes in water demand collected by Artesia; a rapid evidence assessment of news articles, grey literature, and peer reviewed journal articles; and six focus group discussions conducted with a total of 21 participants. The focus group discussions aimed to get participants to reflect about how their domestic water practices have changed in the months following the government’s ‘stay-at-home’ order in England and Wales. This included questions about changes in routines, schedules, patterns of mobility, hygiene meanings and expectations, ways of spending free time and the implications of those for household water usage. Participants were also asked to reflect on
future trajectories of water consumption as restrictions are eased up. The project has been shaped by a practice-based approach to water demand.