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Show 39 conserving water. This is shown through their investments in public workshops, classes, informational brochures and other programs. However, the SLCDPU has gone further in providing an economic incentive through their rate restructuring to make water more expensive. This merits a discussion on the costs and benefits of using economic incentives or voluntary regulations. The problem with educational or voluntary incentives concerning water conservation is precisely that they are voluntary. The consumer might feel virtuous for saving water through water conservation practices, but there is little cost to the user if he or she reverts back to high consumption. Another drawback of voluntary regulation is that it does not reflect the true costs of water to the consumer ( Pole, 1995, p. 108). Consumers are not forced to pay for an increased use in a commodity, thereby devaluing that commodity. Education and other forms of incentive also take time. Agencies need to be able to explain the complex principals involved with water use in a way that is easily digested by the public. Agencies also, especially in the case of Salt Lake City, and the Western United States in general, need to change core ideologies about water and its importance ( Ingram, 1972). This all takes time during which water resources become more scarce and demand increases. However, most water agencies tend to rely, at least, in part on these approaches rather than economic incentives. Economic incentives have their costs, as well. As shown by the examples of the way Jordan Valley Water Conservation District and Salt Lake City Department of Public Utilities sell water, building in economic incentives to |