Student Research Programs - Office of Undergraduate and ...

organisms was observed using direct microscopy to see what functional groups were present during a four week
period. We hypothesize that soils treated with compost extract and herbicide will have respiration rates and
diversity that are higher than the soils treated with just herbicide. The experiments have not been finalized at the
time this abstract was written, but results to date show an increased level of respiration in the samples in which
compost extract or herbicide or both were added. Little difference has been observed in microbial diversity
among the different treatments.
HOW DOES CONSERVATION INFORMATION CHANGE RESIDENTIAL WATER USE
Erika White
Program: NSF REU
Mentors: Kim Rollins, Shawn Stoddard
Department: Resource Economics
Western State College of Colorado
The Truckee Meadow Water Authority (TMWA) is a not-for-profit, communityowned
utility that services Reno and Sparks, Nevada. Various state laws, local
ordinances, and operating agreements mandate that TMWA operate a water
conservation program to help protect the natural resources within this region.
While the conservation program, the Water Watchers, has been in existence since
TMWA was formed in 2001, there has yet to be a quantitative evaluation of the
effect of this program on water demand, let alone an evaluation of the benefits
versus the costs. Literature reveals that in fact, very few quantitative evaluations have been conducted that
determine the effects that water conservation programs have on individual water use behavior. Our study sought
to answer: how does the Water Watchers program influence the quantity of water demanded by individual
households in the region In answering this question, we will help to establish the value of this program to
TMWA and its residential customers. The analysis intends to provide information for TMWA to use in deciding
whether changes should be made to the program. Regression methods are used to determine whether
households tend to change their behavior after having contact with the Water Watchers program, and to
determine what factors affect the amount of water conserved as a function of household size, irrigated landscape,
income, weather, type/purpose of Water Watcher’s contact and other factors. We created a behavioral model,
with data collected by Water Watchers, as well as TMWA’s extensive records of water usage, billing records, and
weather data. We include data from the county assessor’s office on the size of houses, lots, and home value to
proxy household size, income and the amount of irrigated landscape. The panel data include the years from 2003
through 2011, and are limited to residential single-family units. Our results are pending.
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