Publication Details
Abstract
European research and policies for the years 2025 and 2026 focus on transforming the family from merely a “consumer” into a key partner in achieving water security. Our society faces increasing challenges related to water scarcity, water stress, and the expansion of economic activities. The family plays a pivotal role—starting with the mother/woman—in regulating wasteful behaviors and raising awareness of this vital issue, which represents a real threat to sustainability and development. Based on available data, a field survey of a number of families (questionnaires) was conducted regarding rationalization methods and daily water consumption. The study addresses social awareness of the importance of rationalizing water consumption, considering it a shared responsibility and a national duty borne by all members and institutions of society. It also seeks to draw conclusions and propose possible solutions to reduce forms of waste, avoid negative individual behaviors, and limit the adverse economic effects resulting from such waste. This research was conducted to compare certain variables related to water consumption among some households in rural and urban areas of Babylon Governorate. This was achieved by identifying some distinguishing characteristics of girls and mothers in the families of the research sample, evaluating whether there are significant differences in the average expenditure ratios of household water consumption between rural and urban areas, and examining the correlational and causal relationships between some characteristics of the respondents as independent variables and the main household budget as a dependent variable. The study was initially conducted on a random sample of 50 families from rural and urban areas in Babylon Governorate. Subsequently, the research procedures were applied to 300 families selected from both environments. Data were collected through questionnaires administered via personal interviews, and the information was analyzed using percentages, Pearson’s simple correlation coefficient, the t-test, and linear regression analysis as statistical methods.
The most important research findings indicated that:
The study provides analytical results regarding the culture of consumption rationalization among the surveyed households.
The study presents the methods adopted by families in their daily domestic water consumption.
Variables such as age of the families in the research sample, number of years of education, family size, and family income contributed to explaining the variation in daily consumption expenditure ratios in both urban and rural areas.
The study reached a number of recommendations and possible proposals, the most important of which are: presenting an analysis of the daily consumption of the surveyed households, evaluating the most important methods for rationalizing daily household water consumption, and identifying the role of various institutions and authorities in promoting water consumption rationalization.