Gaining Support for Direct Potable Water Reuse

Schäfer

2009

278

170

Many countries' water resources are limited in both quantity and quality. While engineering solutions can now safely produce recycled and desalinated water from non-potable sources at a relatively low cost, the general public is sceptical about adopting these alternative water sources. Social scientists need to better understand what is causing this lack of acceptance by the general population and how acceptance levels for recycled and desalinated water can be increased. This study is the first to conduct a comparative analysis of knowledge, perceptions, acceptability, and determine segments of residents who are more open-minded than the general population toward the use of recycled and desalinated water. The Australian population once perceived desalinated water as environmentally unfriendly, and recycled water as a public health hazard. The general level of knowledge about these two concepts as potential water sources has historically been low. After nearly five years of serious drought, accompanied by severe water restrictions across most of the country, and subsequent media attention on solutions to water scarcity, Australians now show more acceptance of desalinated water for close-to-body uses, and less resistance to recycled water for garden watering and cleaning uses. The types of people likely to be strong accepters of the two alternative water sources are distinctly different groups, and can be reached through different media mixes. This finding has significant implications for policy makers.

Section: Levels 23mentioning

confidence: 99%

Desalinated versus recycled water: Public perceptions and profiles of the accepters

Schäfer

2009

278

170

“…Further research is required to explore actual behaviour change resulting from restrictions and other policy interventions. Various authors have discussed the effect media campaigns can have on people's attitudes to alternative water sources (Allon and Sofoulis 2006;Coutts 2006;Dishman et al 1989;Friend and Coutts 2006;Marks et al 2008;Po et al 2003). However, none of these studies have measured the effect those campaigns have had on actual water use behaviour.…”

Section: The Effect Of Marketing Interventions On Water-related Behavmentioning

confidence: 99%

Understanding behaviour to inform water supply management in developed nations – A review of literature, conceptual model and research agenda

Hurlimann

Meyer

2009

119

Water is a scarce resource in many parts of the developed world. Two solutions are possible to address water scarcity: conservation of existing resources, or the further production of water from new sources e.g. through recycling of wastewater or desalination of seawater. However, the main hurdle to implementation of many of these solutions is often viewed as a lack of public willingness to adopt these alternative water behaviours. Research in this area is therefore crucial. Yet, and possibly due to the interdisciplinary nature of such research, there is currently no comprehensive overview of what has been done before. This study fills this gap by (1) choosing a general consumer behaviour perspective as a starting point, (2) developing a conceptual model of research required in the area of water-related public acceptance studies, (3) identifying eight key water-related behaviours which require future research attention, and (4) reviewing which areas of the conceptual model have been investigated in the past by conducting an extensive literature review of water-related social science research. The review established that the majority of work which has been conducted is located at the crossroads of personal characteristics and behavioural intentions. Significant gaps exist in relation to researching the adoption of a wide range of demand-side water behaviours. This indicates a dominance of supply-side solutions in social-research exploration. The review identifies a number of research needs including: the exploration of actual adoption of water-related behaviours (rather than behavioural intentions); and to widen the scope of water behaviour enquiry to include more demand-side solutions. Given the increasing scarcity of water in many areas of the world, addressing these identified gaps will be of significant importance. Thus our model informs the social-research agenda for water policy. The review established that the majority of work which has been conducted is located at the crossroads of personal characteristics and behavioural intentions. Significant gaps exist in relation to researching the adoption of a wide range of demand-side water behaviours. This indicates a dominance of supply-side solutions in social research exploration. The review identifies a number of research needs including: the exploration of actual adoption of water-related behaviours (rather than behavioural intentions); and to widen the scope of water behaviour enquiry to include more demand-side solutions.Given the increasing scarcity of water in many areas of the world, addressing these identified gaps will be of significant importance. Thus our model informs the social-research agenda for water policy.

“…Twenty years ago Dishman et al (1989) concluded that technical aspects of potable water reuse can be resolved, but "the issue of public acceptance could kill the proposal" (p. 158). Indeed in Australia, public opposition to Towoomba Council's potable reuse plans contributed to the community voting against the proposal in a referendum (Hurlimann and Dolnicar 2010).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The effect of information on public acceptance – The case of water from alternative sources

Hurlimann

Nghiem

2010

116

This study aims to provide conclusive evidence that information about water from alternative sources increases public acceptance. We conducted an experiment with 1000 Australian respondents asking them about their acceptance of recycled and desalinated water for a range of purposes under two conditions: 1) no information provided and 2) information about the production process provided. Results indicate that -both for desalinated and recycled water -the stated likelihood of use increases significantly if people are provided with information about the production process. This has major implications for public policy makers indicating that providing factual information (as opposed to persuasive campaigns) will increase public support of water augmentation projects. AbstractThis study aims to provide conclusive evidence that information about water from alternative sources increases public acceptance. We conducted an experiment with 1000Australian respondents asking them about their acceptance of recycled and desalinated water for a range of purposes under two conditions: 1) no information provided and 2) information about the production process provided. Results indicate that -both for desalinated and recycled water -the stated likelihood of use increases significantly if people are provided with information about the production process. This has major implications for public policy makers indicating that providing factual information (as opposed to persuasive campaigns) will increase public support of water augmentation projects.