Balancing Effectiveness and Equity in Sustainable Water Management Transitions: Case of the Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department

Abstract

In response to diverse socioenvironmental challenges, urban water utilities in the United States are transitioning to more sustainable management practices that are often designed to reduce total water consumption. Although these practices can effectively maximize the use of limited water supplies, they may simultaneously exacerbate socioeconomic disparities if their implications for equity are not fully considered. This research examines the potential tradeoffs between effectiveness and equity in urban water transitions by analyzing Miami-Dade County’s high-efficiency toilet (HET) voluntary rebate program (VRP) as an example of a sustainable water management practice. Using data on HET-VRP participation, water consumption and billing, and socioeconomic indicators, we analyze the relationship between HET-VRP uptake and benefit distribution among residents. Through parametric and spatial statistical analyses, we find that areas with higher income and education levels have both higher water consumption and more HET-VRP participation, indicating potential program effectiveness. However, lower participation in vulnerable communities raises equity concerns, underscoring the need for targeted outreach and policies that consider distributional impacts. These findings suggest that urban water systems should better incorporate equity considerations in the planning and implementation of water conservation policies intended to promote sustainable water management.