About the project
The "Sustainable Water Management in the Metropolis – Residents’ Behavioural Patterns and Household Water Footprint" project is aimed at supporting young scientists in conducting scientific research by financing the costs related to the collection, processing and analysis of empirical data, including disseminating the results of the research in the national and international scientific community and among residents and entrepreneurs operating in the Metropolis GZM area.
The main objectives of the project are:
- Identification and assessment of behavior patterns, attitudes, and motivations of Metropolis GZM residents in the context of individual water consumption and effective water management in households to reduce the water footprint in the face of climate change and the risk of droughts and floods.
- Assessment of actions and investments undertaken by residents of the Metropolis GZM in terms of sustainable water consumption.
- Diagnosis of barriers that hinder sustainable water management in households in the Metropolis GZM.
- Formulation of recommendations for the authorities of the Metropolis GZM to develop practical tools and incentives to raise environmental awareness among residents, monitor individual water consumption, and rationalize water management.
The research task will be conducted by dr Sylwia Słupik, and involves the following activities:
- analysis of relevant literature (national and international) covered by the research task;
- analysis of publicly available secondary data;
- development of original scientific research on the intertemporal preferences of residents of Metropolis GZM;
- preparation and analysis of statistical data collected as part of the research task;
- presentation of research results at renowned national and international scientific conferences;
- preparation of a scientific paper presenting the results of the research;
- popularization of research results among residents of Metropolis GZM (e.g., in the form of public lectures, participation in popular science events, etc.).
popularization of research results among residents of Metropolis GZM (e.g., in the form of public lectures, participation in popular science events, etc.).
The project coordinator is dr hab. Monika Foltyn-Zarychta, prof. UE. This project is part of the "ECOnomics4Climate III" cluster project implemented by Prof. Foltyn-Zarychta, with the support of Internationalization.
The "Sustainable Water Management in the Metropolis – Residents’ Behavioural Patterns and Household Water Footprint" project has been co-financed by the Metropolis GZM within the framework of the "Metropolitan Science and Education Support Fund" program for years 2022-2024. The total grant amount is PLN 50,085.00.
Project implementation period: March – November 2025.
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Conducted research and publications
Conclusions from the performed research
- First, household water consumption is a key yet still under-exploited area for public policy impact. The study’s findings confirm that the daily practices of water users have the greatest influence on actual water consumption, yet these remain largely overlooked in the design of metropolitan policies.
- Second, the effectiveness of interventions depends on recognising the diversity of users and moving away from uniform solutions towards a segmented approach based on different types of practices and motivations. Standardised information or financial tools do not address the diverse motivations, barriers, and levels of agency among residents. A segmented approach allows efforts to be directed where they are feasible and socially acceptable, whilst minimising the risk of unintended consequences.
- Third, within the Metropolis GZM, institutional factors – such as clear rules, program stability, and trust in public bodies – take on particular significance, as they significantly influence people’s willingness to change their behaviour.
- Fourth, behaviour-oriented water policy should be viewed as a long-term process requiring testing, learning, and the gradual refinement of tools, rather than as a one-off set of measures. In the context of changing institutional and social conditions, this implies the need for adaptive management that responds to actual user behaviour, rather than relying solely on project assumptions.
- Finally, integrating a behavioural perspective into water management could become one of the defining features of modern metropolitan policy, enhancing both environmental effectiveness and the social legitimacy of the measures taken.
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