‘Shame’ Customers to Reduce Water Consumption

Klaus Reichardt, CEO of Waterless Co., which manufacturers No-Flush Urinals, says so-called “shame” programs could encourage businesses to find ways to use water more efficiently and help California utilities meet state requirements to reduce their per capita water use by 20 percent by 2020.

Shame programs are politely referred to as the “behavioral water efficiency” program, but sometimes referred to as the “shame” program, it finds that when consumers find out how their environmental impacts compare with their neighbors, water consumption overall declines by five percent.

The California Water Foundation and the East Bay Municipal Utility District will soon see how one works. They developed a pilot program that allows users to see how their water use compares to their neighbors living in similar homes and circumstances.

Last year was one of the driest years on record for California and predictions are that 2014 will not be much better.