Regional Heterogeneity in Urban Water Consumption in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia faces rising urban water demand, yet significant regional disparities in daily per capita consumption persist despite uniform national pricing and policies. This study aims to identify the drivers of these disparities across the kingdom’s 13 administrative regions. We analyzed data on water consumption, climate, socio-demographics, property characteristics, environmental awareness, and institutional factors using descriptive statistics and correlations. Results indicate notable consumption variations, with Riyadh and the Eastern Region exhibiting the highest levels, while Asir, Jazan, and Najran exhibit the lowest. Appliance ownership—particularly washing machines (r = 0.75) and Western-style toilets (r = 0.77)—along with access to public water services (r = 0.73), and higher incomes (r = 0.58), positively correlated with increased usage, whereas, younger populations (r = −0.76), reliance on water tanks (r = −0.71), and attitude towards water scarcity (r = −0.69) were associated with lower consumption. Conservation practices showed mixed effects on water use. Overall, regional disparities are primarily driven by property characteristics, environmental awareness, and socioeconomic factors rather than climatic influences. This suggests a need for regionally tailored water policies that complement national standards. Addressing these variations will enable policymakers to design targeted water management strategies that balance consumption needs with water availability.