Estimating household water consumption in Jordanian rural households: A case study

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.35516/Hum.2026.11271

Keywords:

end-use water, per capita household water consumption, factors, multiple linear regression analysis, Jordan.

Abstract

Objectives: The study aims to measure the amount and characteristics of end-use water consumption and identify the factors influencing it in Al-Kharj village, Irbid Governorate.

Methods: Primary data were collected through a structured questionnaire survey administered to 146 randomly selected households. Water consumption for each end-use was estimated using a combination of observational techniques and self-reported measures, including flow rate and usage duration. A multiple linear regression model was applied via SPSS to analyze the influencing factors.

Results: The results showed that the average daily per capita water consumption was 66.73 liters, with dishwashing manually being the most consuming activity. Water consumption influenced by household size, the household head's educational level, household income (per month), and total built-up area m². The coefficient of determination (R²) for the model was 0.623, explaining 62.3% of the variance in per capita consumption.

Conclusions: The study highlighted the need to develop sustainable demand management policies, given the limited available resources. It demonstrated that achieving effective demand management in Jordanian rural areas requires taking into account socio-economic characteristics, and physical characteristics, given their direct impact on daily per capita consumption rates.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Aho, M. I., Akpen, G. D., & Ivue, P. (2016). Determinants of Residential Per Capita of Water Demand Makurdi Metropolis, Nigerian Journal of Technology (NIJOTECH), 35(2), 424 – 431, http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/njt.v35i2.26

Al-Hadidi, M., & Al-Kharabsheh, A. (2015). Effect of Overpumping on Water Quality Deterioration Deterioration in Arid Areas: A Case Study of Dead Sea Basin/Jordan. Jordan Journal of Agricultural Sciences, University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan, 11(1).

Alharshaa, I., Memona, F. A., Farmania, R., & Hussienb, W. E. (2022). An investigation of domestic water consumption in Sirte, Libya. Urban Water Journal, 19(9), 922–944. https://doi.org/10.1080/1573062X.2022.2105239

Al-Kharabsheh, A. (2020). Challenges to Sustainable Water Management in Jordan. Jordan Journal of Earth and Environmental Sciences, 11(1), 38-48.

Alnsour, M.A., Ijam, A.Z. (2023). Specifying a cascade water demand forecasting model using time-series analysis: a case of Jordan. Sustain, Water Resour. Manag, 9, 37. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40899-023-00824-3

Altz-Stamm, A. (2012). Jordan’s Water Resource Challenges and the Prospects for Sustainability. GIS for Water Resources.

Al-Zahrani, K. H. and Baig, M. B. (2011). Water in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: Sustainable Management Options. The Journal of Animal & Plant Sciences, 21(3), 601-604. ISSN: 1018-7081

An, M., Fan, L., Huang, J., Yang, W., Wu, H., Wang, X., et al. (2021). The gap of water supply—Demand and its driving factors: From water footprint view in Huaihe River Basin. PLOS ONE, 16(3), e0247604. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0247604

Arab, N., Abubakr, A., Balkhi, M. H., Bazaz, A. I., Yousuf, Z., Hafeez,M., Mansoor, A. B., Razak, N., and Ahmad, A. (2021). Water security and its scarcity: A review. The Pharma Innovation Journal, 10(1), 217-219.

Arouna, A., & Dabbert, S. (2010). Determinants of domestic water use by rural households without access to private improved water sources in Benin: a seemingly unrelated Tobit Approach. Water Resources Management, 24, 1381–1398.

Baigorri, B., Montañés, A., & Simón-Fernández, M. B. (2022). Household Water Consumption in Spain: Disparities between Region. Water, 14, 1121.

https://doi.org/10.3390/w14071121

Bello-Dambatta, A., Kapelan, Z., Butler, D.., Oertlé, E., Hugi, C., Jelinkova, Z., Becker, N., Hochstrat, R., Rozos, E., Makropoulos, C., & Wintgens, T. (2010). Priorities of current and emerging water demand management technologies and approaches, EU FP7 TRUST Project Report.

Climate Variables on Residential Water Consumption in the Czech Republic. Water Resources Management 27 (2), 365–379. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11269-012-0191-1.

Davies, E.G.R., Simonovic, S.P. (2011). Global water resources modelling with an integrated model of the social-economic-environmental system. Advances in Water Resources, 34, 684–700. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.advwatres.2011.02.010

DOS (Department of Statistics). (2015). Department of Statistics: Population and Housing Census 2015. Amman, Jordan.

DOS (Department of Statistics). (2022). Department of Statistics: Estimated population for the end of 2022. Amman, Jordan.

DOS (Department of Statistics). (2023). Department of Statistics: Estimated population for the end of 2023. Amman, Jordan.

Duarte, R., Pinilla, V., & Serrano, A. (2013). Is There an Environmental Kuznets Curve for Water Use? A Panel Smooth Transition Regression Approach. Economic Modelling 31, 518–527. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.econmod.2012.12.010

Duarte, R., V. Pinilla, & Serrano, A. (2013). Is There an Environmental Kuznets Curve for Water Use? A Panel Smooth Transition Regression Approach. Economic Modelling 31: 518–527. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.econmod.2012.12.010

Fan, L., Liu, G., Wang, F., Geissen, V., & Ritsema, C. J. (2013). Factors Affecting Domestic Water Consumption in Rural Households upon Access to Improved Water Supply: Insights from the Wei River Basin, China. PLOS ONE, 8(8). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0071977

Fan, L., Liu, G., Wang, F., Ritsema, C. J., & Giessen, V. (2014). Domestic Water Consumption under Intermittent and Continous Modes of Water Supply. Water Resources Management, 28, 853-865. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11269-014-0520-7

Gain, A.K., Wada, Y. (2014). Assessment of future water scarcity at different spatial and temporal scales of the Brahmaputra River Basin. Water Resources Management., 28, 999–1012.

Gleick, P. H. (1996). Basic water requirements for human activities. Water International, 21(2), 83–92. https://doi.org/10.1080/02508069608686494

Grasham C.F., Charles, K. J, and Abdi, T. G. (2022). (Re-)orienting the Concept of Water Risk to Better Understand Inequities in Water Security. Front. Water, 3, 799515. https://doi.org/10.3389/frwa.2021.799515

Gujarati, D. N., & Porter, D. C. (2009). Basic Econometrics. (5th ed.). McGraw-Hill.

Hussien, W.A., Memon, F.A., & Savic, D.A. (2016). Assessing and Modelling the Influence of Household Characteristics on Per Capita Water Consumption. Water Resour Manage, 30, 2931–2955 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11269-016-1314-x

Ibrahim, A, S., Memon, F.A., & Butler, D. (2021). Seasonal Variation of Rainy and Dry Season per Capita Water Consumption in Freetown City Sierra Leone. Water, 13(4), 499. https://doi.org/10.3390/w13040499

Jorge, C., Vieira, P., Rebelo, M., & Covas, D. (2015). Assessment of Water Use Efficiency in the Household Using Cluster Analysis. Procedia Engineering, 119, 820–827. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.proeng.2015.08.945

Jorgensen, B., Graymore, M., & O’Toole, K. (2009). Household water use behavior: An integrated model. Journal of Environmental Management, 91(1), 227–236. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2009.08.009

Jorgensen, B., Graymore, M., & O'Toole, K. (2010). Household water use behaviour: An integrated model. Journal of Environmental Management, 91(1), 227-236.

Khawaji, A.D., Kutubkhanah, I.K., & Wie, J.M. (2008). Advances in seawater desalination technologies. Desalination, 221, 47–69. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.desal.2007.01.067

Kılıç, Z. (2020). The importance of water and conscious use of water. International Journal of Hydrology, 4(5), 239–241. https://doi.org/10.15406/ijh.2020.04.00250

Klassert, C., Sigel, K., Gawel, E., & Klauer, B. (2015). Modeling Residential Water Consumption in Amman: The Role of Intermittency, Storage, and Pricing for Piped and Tanker Water. Water, 7(12), 3643–3670. MDPI AG. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/w7073643

Klassert, C., Sigel, K., Klauer, B., & Gawel, E. (2018). Increasing Block Tariffs in an Arid Developing Country: A Discrete/Continuous Choice Model of Residential Water Demand in Jordan. Water, 10(3), 248. https://doi.org/10.3390/w10030248

Makki, A. A., Stewart, R. A., Beal, C. D., & Panuwatwanich, K.(2015). Novel bottom-up urban water demand forecasting model: Revealing the determinants, drivers and predictors of residential indoor end-use consumption. Resource Conservation and Recycling, 95, 15–37. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2014.11.009

Makwiza, C., & Jacobs, H. E. (2016). Assessing the impact of property size on residential water use for selected neighbourhoods in Lilongwe, Malawi. Journal of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for Development, 6(2), 242–251. https://doi.org/10.2166/washdev.2016.014

Martínez, D. M., & Maia, A. G. (2021). The Effect of Social Behavior on Residential Water Consumption. Water, 13(9), 1184. https://doi.org/10.3390/w13091184

Mendenhall, W., Wackerly, D. D., & Scheaffer, R. L. (1990). Mathematical statistics with applications (4th ed.) PWS-Kent Publishing Co.

Motho, M., Kolawole, A.D., Motsholapheko. M.R., & Mogomotsi, P.K. (2022) Influence of household demographic and socio-economic factors on water demand in Ngamiland District, Botswana. Water Science, 36(1), 48-59, https://doi.org/10.1080/23570008.2022.2048581

Mukherjee, S. (2016). Role of water resources management in Economic

development. J Yojana, 8(196), 7–11.

Müller, M. F., Yoon, J., Gorelick, S. M., Avisse, N., & Tilmant, A. (2016). Impact of the Syrian refugee crisis on land use and transboundary freshwater resources. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 113, 14932–14937

MWI (Ministry of Water and Irrigation) (2020). Annual Report 2020. Amman, Jordan, Ministry of Water and Irrigation.

Nauges, C., & Strand, J. (2007). Estimation of non-tap water demand in Central American cities. Resour Energy Econ, 29(3), 165–182. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.reseneeco.2006.05.002

Namrouqa, H. (2013, October 23). Authorities seek to identify pollution sources at zaatari. Jordan Times. Retrieved from http://jordantimes.com/article/authorities-seek-to-identify-pollution%20-sources-at-zaatari

Nauges, C., & Thomas, A. (2000). Privately operated water utilities, municipal price negotiation, and estimation of residential water demand: The case of France. Land Economics, 76, 68–85. https://doi.org/10.2307/3147258

Nauges, C., & Whittington, D. (2010). Estimation of Water Demand in Developing Countries: An Overview. The World Bank Research Observer, 25(2), 263–294. http://www.jstor.org/stable/40891376

Oageng, I., & Mmopelwa, G.P. (2014). Water consumption patterns in a rural

setting in Ngamiland district, Botswana: the case of Boro village. Journal of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for Development, 4, 720–726. http://dx.doi.org/10.2166/washdev.2014.065

Okello, C., Tomasello, B., Greggio, N., Wambiji, N., & Antonellini, M. (2015). Impact of Population Growth and Climate Change on the Freshwater Resources of Lamu Island, Kenya. Water, 7, 1264-1290. https://doi.org/10.3390/w7031264

Philippsen, J. S., Angeoletto, F., & Santana, R. (2017). Education level and income are important for good environmental awareness: a case study from south Brazil. Ecologia Austral. https://doi.org/10.25260/EA.17.27.1.0.300

Potter, L. B., Tremaine, D. M., & Banner, J. L. (2022). Predictors of Variations in Residential Water Consumption in Central Texas. Water, 14, 1804.

https://doi.org/10.3390/w14111804.

Rondinel-Oviedo. D. R and Sarmiento-Pastor, J. M. (2020) Water: consumption, usage patterns, and residential infrastructure. A comparative analysis of three regions in the Lima metropolitan area, Water International, 45:7-8, 824-846, https://doi.org/10.1080/02508060.2020.1830360

Sadr, S. M. K., Memon, F., Jain, A., Gulati, S., Duncan, A. P., Hussein, W., Savić, D. A., and Butler, D. (2016). An Analysis of Domestic Water Consumption in Jaipur, India. International Journal of Environment and Climate Change, 6(2), 97-115. https://doi.org/10.9734/BJECC/2016/23727.

Salman, A and Al-Karablieh, E (2006). Socioeconomic factors influencing the households water demand function in Jordan, International Conference: Integrated Water Resource Management and Challenges of the Sustainable Development. (23-25 May 2006) At: Marrakech, Morocco.

Sant’Ana, D., and Mazzega, P. (2018). Socioeconomic analysis of domestic water end-use consumption in the Federal District, Brazil. Sustainable Water Resources Management, 4, 921–936. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40899-017-0186-4

Schleich, J., Hillenbrand, T. (2009). Determinants of residential water demand in Germany. Ecol. Econ., 68, 1756–1769. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolecon.2008.11.012

Shan, Y., Yang, L., Perren, K., and Zhang, Y. (2015). Household water consumption: Insight from a survey in Greece and Poland, Procedia Engineering, 119(1), 1409–1418. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.proeng.2015.08.1001

Simukonda, K., R. Farmani, and D. Butler. (2018). Intermittent Water Supply Systems: Causal Factors, Problems and Solution Options. Urban Water Journal 15 (5), 488–500. https://doi.org/10.1080/1573062X.2018.1483522

Slavíková, L., Malý, V., Rost, M., Petružela, L., and Vojaček, O. (2013). Impacts of

Sofoulis, Z. (2005). Big water, everyday water: A sociotechnical perspective. Continuum: Journal of Media and Cultural Studies, 19(4), 445-463. https://doi.org/10.1080/10304310500322685

Souza, C. de, and Kalbusch, A. (2017). Estimation of water consumption in multifamily residential buildings. Acta Scientiarum. Technology, 39(2), 161-168. https://doi.org/10.4025/actascitechnol.v39i2.26100

Syme, G. J., Po. M. Shao, Q, and Campbell, E. 2004. Predicting and Understanding Home Garden Water Use. Landscape and Urban Planning 68 (1), 121–128. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2003.08.002

Tabieh, M. A., Al-Karablieh, E. K., Salman, A. Z., Al – Assaf, A., Majdalawi, M. E., and Qtaishat, T. H. (2022).

An estimate of the economic value of domestic water services: case study in Jordan. Academy of Strategic Management

Journal, 21(S6), 1-14.

Tzanakakis, V. A., Paranychianakis, N. V., and Angelakis, A. N. (2020). Water Supply and Water Scarcity. Water, 12(9), 2347. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/w12092347

USAID (United States Agency for International Development). (2018). Water management initiative: Review of water scarcity ranking methodologies. Vermont, USA.

Villar-Navascués, R., and Pérez-Morales. A. (2018). Factors Affecting Domestic Water Consumption on the Spanish Mediterranean Coastline. The Professional Geographer, 70(3), 513–525. https://doi.org/10.1080/00330124.2017.1416302

Wallingford, H. R. (2003). Handbook for the Assessment of Catchment Water Demand and Use. Department of International Development, London, UK.

Wang, Y., and Liu, S. (2016). Education, human capital and economic growth: Empirical research on 55 countries and regions (1960-2009). Theoretical Economics Letters, 6(2), 347-365.

WHO (World Health Organization). (2019). Water Supply, sanitation and Hygiene Monitoring. https://www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/monitoring/

Yolles, P. (1993). Water Quantity Requirements in Various Sanitation Alternatives. Internal Study, Pacific Institute for Studies in Development, Environment, and Security, Oakland. CA, U.S.A.

Zeitoun M., Allan, T., Al Aulaqi, N., Jabarin, A., and Laamrani, H. (2012). Water demand management in Yemen and Jordan: addressing power and interests.

The Geographical Journal, 178(1), 54–66. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1475-4959.2011.00420.x

Zevi,Y., Fatimah, W. M., Ramdani,Y., Habibbullah, M. Y,. and Mursyida, N. (2022). Estimating household water consumptions in the Bandung Metropolitan area. IOP Conf. Series: Earth and Environmental Science.

Downloads

Published

2026-09-01

Issue

Section

Geography

How to Cite

Alwedyan, safaa, & Sarayrah, H. (2026). Estimating household water consumption in Jordanian rural households: A case study. Dirasat: Human and Social Sciences, 53(12), 11271. https://doi.org/10.35516/Hum.2026.11271

Most read articles by the same author(s)