The Dutch government has for some time urged residents to keep showers to a maximum of five minutes to conserve drinking water. A survey by the Hart van Nederland Panel found that a large majority of respondents support the call and are willing to cooperate.

Sixty-eight percent of those surveyed said they are prepared to limit their showers to five minutes. Fifty percent reported they already do so. Another 18 percent said they would try to keep their showers shorter from now on.

Not everyone agrees. Thirty-one percent said they would not follow the advice. Of that group, 10 percent support the idea but do not expect a five-minute shower to be feasible for them. Twenty-one percent are unwilling because they believe the government should not involve itself in how long people shower.

In Steenwijkerland, authorities are running a special shower pilot project aimed at raising awareness of water use, including among tourists.

The campaign “Word geen Douchebag. Fris in 5 minuten” (Don’t Be a Douchebag. Fresh in 5 Minutes) was launched in June by a partnership that includes the government and drinking-water companies. Organizers said the effort seeks to encourage more careful use of drinking water because the supply is coming under increasing pressure.

Campaign organizers identified showers as the area with the greatest potential savings. The average Dutch person uses 118 liters of drinking water per day, with about 40 percent of that going to showers. A five-minute shower with a standard showerhead uses roughly 45 liters. Doubling the time roughly doubles the use to about 90 liters. The campaign therefore promotes five minutes as the new standard.