Student Worksheet

Issues of drought, water conservation and effective use of water resources are big issues in Australia. In order to help address some of these issues, the government has proposed five different approaches to water conservation. These are:

Broad-based price increase
Progressive tax structure for water pricing
Prohibit domestic outdoor water use
Voluntary water restrictions
Compulsory water restrictions

Your task is to:

Consider each of the proposed water conservation strategies and summarize how they address the 4 E’s by filling in the spaces provided below.
Grade each proposal out of 10 for it’s potential to meet the 4 E’s.

THE 4 E's

Equity

Environment

Economy

Effectiveness

How equitable is the policy?

Who will bear the costs of the policy?

Will the costs be distributed equally?

Will the people who must pay the costs be able to afford them?

If they cannot afford the costs, will there be subsidies available to them?

Does the policy discriminate against any particular group?

How will the policy affect the environment?

Will it change the way people use natural resources?

Does it provide incentives for people to be wasteful?

How will the policy affect the regional economy?

Will it create or destroy large numbers of jobs?

Will the area be able to maintain productivity?

Will the policy be effective?

Will the government be able to enforce the policy?

What incentives do people have to comply with the policy?

Does the policy conflict with any laws already in place?

1. Broad-based price increase: The price of water for all consumers, residential and commercial, would triple.

Equity

Environment

Ecomony

Effectiveness

Grade out of 10:

2. Progressive tax structure for water pricing: How much you pay for water would depend on how much water you use. The first 150 litres of water you use would only cost $0.10 a litre, the next 150 litres would cost $0.20 a litre, and so on.

Equity

Environment

Economy

Effectiveness

Grade out of 10:

3. Prohibit domestic outdoor water use: Residents face stiff fines for outdoor water use. They are not allowed to wash their cars, water their lawns, fill their pools, or use any water outside of their house.

Equity

Environment

Economy

Effectiveness

Grade out of 10:

4. Voluntary water restrictions: People would be informed about the seriousness of the drought and the water company or government would request that people cut back their water usage. The policy would offer suggestions on how consumers could conserve water.

Equity

Environment

Economy

Effectiveness

Grade out of 10:

5. Compulsory water restrictions: People would be informed about the seriousness of the drought and the water company or government would have the power to fine people who flaunt the water restrictions set by the company. The would offer suggestions on how consumers could conserve water.

Equity

Environment

Economy

Effectiveness

Grade out of 10:

Overall, which strategy would you recommend that the government should implement as a water conservation strategy? Use your 4 E's analysis to outline the reasons why you have selected the strategy you have.

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