The Role of Water Ethics in the Development of Water Conservation Behaviors

To achieve sustainable development goals at the societal level, it is necessary to protect the existing water resources. The development of theories on environmental ethics, in general, and water ethics, in particular, has emphasized the normative nature of water conservation behaviors in recent decades. In this regard, various behavioral analysis models have so far been developed by including value variables of development based on descriptive and prescriptive ethical views. This research analyzed Iranian farmers’ conservation behavior in the use of water resources using the theory of planned behavior (TPB) extended by including moral norms and perceived ethical principles proposed by UNDP. This survey was conducted among farmers in the Sistan Region, for which 361 farmers were sampled by multi-stage clustering randomization. The results showed that the variable of moral norms (the feeling of internal commitment) could greatly contribute to developing water conservation attitudes among farmers. Perceived prescriptive principles and values of water ethics can also reinforce behavioral intention and develop conservation attitudes among farmers. Our results show that the use of water ethics views in managing and conserving water resources can help extend water conservation behaviors in the current water crisis and prolonged drought conditions. Pluralistic policymaking and planning for the management of water resources, considering the significance of water ethics, along with other technical and economic dimensions, can help the sustainable conservation of water for future generations.