Saving water in everyday life
The Saving water in everyday life survey measures how households actually use water and what would help them use less. It covers how important saving feels, how often people act on it, which specific habits they keep, how accessible saving solutions are, the barriers in the way, and which measures they rank as most effective. Use it to shape guidance, device programmes and incentives that fit daily routines.
What the “Saving water in everyday life” survey measures
The questionnaire rates how important water saving is and how often people try to save at home, then lists concrete habits — turning off the tap while brushing or soaping, choosing a shower over a bath, shortening showers, running full loads, using eco modes, fixing leaks fast, reusing water, using a basin instead of running water, tracking meters. It gauges how accessible fixtures like aerators, low-flow showerheads and dual-flush toilets are, how convenient monitoring feels, and the barriers (no habit, no visible bill savings, cost, install/approval hurdles for renters, lack of information, inconvenience, poor plumbing, no household support). A next-month readiness matrix captures intended actions, and a ranking question orders which measures — clear guidance, affordable devices, building support, financial incentives, convenient monitoring, leak alerts, educational reminders — people find most effective.
Who the “Saving water in everyday life” template is for
It suits water utilities and municipal water programmes, housing associations and building managers, sustainability and ESG teams, environmental NGOs, and property developers or facility managers optimising consumption. It is useful before a device-subsidy scheme, a metering rollout or an awareness campaign, and when a savings programme needs evidence of what residents will actually adopt.
How to adapt the template to your needs
Match the habit and device lists to your housing stock — drop garden watering for apartments, add outdoor use for houses. Reword “at home” to “at work” for a workplace programme. Branch so renters who face install barriers get device-subsidy and landlord-approval questions while owners get direct upgrade prompts. The ranking question can be trimmed to the measures you can actually fund, and the readiness matrix turned into a commitment tracker for a follow-up wave.
Questions and answer options
Answer options:
— Very important
— Rather important
— Rather not important
— Not important at all
— Hard to say
Answer options:
— Always or almost always
— Often
— Sometimes
— Rarely
— Never
— Hard to say
Answer options:
— Turn off the tap while brushing teeth/soaping hands
— Choose a shower instead of a bath
— Shorten shower time
— Run the washing machine/dishwasher only with a full load
— Use eco mode on appliances (if available)
— Fix leaks quickly (tap, toilet tank, pipes)
— Collect water for reuse (e.g., for watering plants)
— Use a basin/container instead of running water for some tasks
— Track water use via meters/bills
Answer options:
— Already installed and used
— I know how to install them, and it’s accessible
— Rather accessible, but I haven’t done it yet
— Rather not accessible (difficult/expensive/no possibility)
— I don’t know what these are / I’m not familiar
Answer options:
— No habit / I forget
— I don’t see noticeable savings on bills
— Water-saving solutions seem expensive
— Hard to install / requires approval (rent, building management)
— Not enough information on what actually works
— It’s inconvenient to change habits (e.g., shorten showers)
— Leaks/plumbing are in poor condition and hard to fix quickly
— No support for this practice in the household/building
Answer options:
— Turn off the tap while soaping/brushing teeth
— Reduce shower time by at least 2–3 minutes
— Run the washing machine/dishwasher only with a full load
— Check and fix possible leaks (tap/toilet tank)
— Install or replace water-saving attachments/settings (if possible)
Answer options:
— Clear recommendations and instructions (what to do and the impact)
— Affordable water-saving devices (aerators, showerheads, toilet tanks)
— Support from building/management company (checks, leak repairs)
— Financial incentives (discounts, subsidies, support programs)
— Convenient usage monitoring (readings, notifications, analytics)
— Leak alerts and fast repair services
— Educational materials and reminders (habits and examples)
Similar survey templates
Frequently asked questions
