Both agricultural and residential overconsumption need tackling. Both.
Example from the article: "326,000 gallons (1.23 million liters), is enough water to supply one or two households for a year."
No! That is enough for >16 households a year in this rich part of northwestern Europe [0]. In a naturally dry area, consumption should be substantially less, not 16 times more.
Lowering residential water consumption to these reasonable levels gives an immediate 18.80% savings on total water consumption. That's nothing to sneeze at.
Forcing responsible water use upon non-agricultural users might also encourage a critical look at agricultural water consumption.
I'd expect water consumption to be actually higher in a dry area compared to Belgium (not 16x more though). You'd need more water to grow crops, wash your car, hydrate yourself. You might also take more frequent showers.
One may think of it as balancing the water budget, or more realistically as somewhat managing the negative externalities of sucking the land dry in ~ four human generations.
I wish I had misread my sources[0], but unfortunately, 500000l per year per household really is in there.
From the relevant wikipedia article [1]:
"Many homes in Sacramento didn't have water meters until recently. They now are gradually being installed after [...] law mandating meters statewide by 2025." In other words: we pretend to care a little, but actually, we don't.
The famous French saying is more honest: "Après nous le déluge". Loosely translated: "We'll be long gone before the flooding starts.". Both very applicable and not at all...
Example from the article: "326,000 gallons (1.23 million liters), is enough water to supply one or two households for a year."
No! That is enough for >16 households a year in this rich part of northwestern Europe [0]. In a naturally dry area, consumption should be substantially less, not 16 times more.
Lowering residential water consumption to these reasonable levels gives an immediate 18.80% savings on total water consumption. That's nothing to sneeze at.
Forcing responsible water use upon non-agricultural users might also encourage a critical look at agricultural water consumption.
[0] https://www.vmm.be/data/gemiddeld-leidingwaterverbruik-gezin...