Interview H.M. Smith and J.A.G. Frijns - New surveys reveal that social acceptance of water reuse isn't the biggest challange

“A new set of European surveys have revealed that the perceived ‘yuck factor’ typically predicted as a public reaction to wastewater recycling may not be as bad as we think. An anticipated negative perception of water recycling, or wastewater reuse, is frequently cited as a stumbling block when delivering large-scale water recycling projects. However, the surveys have revealed that the public is more open to wastewater recycling than the water sector has historically believed. Issued by Cranfield University to more than 2,500 participants in the UK, Spain, and the Netherlands, the surveys focused on recycled water for drinking purposes and recovered nutrients to grow food. They intended to find up-to-date views on the state of acceptance of wastewater recycling (direct potable reuse), especially with more projects coming online.
Survey results and social networks – Headline results showed that in the Netherlands, 75% of respondents supported or strongly supported the use of recycled water for drinking, compared to 67% in the UK and 73% in Spain. Interestingly, there was also a higher support for consuming food grown using recovered nutrients from wastewater than drinking recycled water in all three countries (75% in the Netherlands, 74% in the UK, and 85% in Spain). Dr Heather Smith, senior lecturer in Water Governance at Cranfield University, said this is due to the perceived closer connection between clean water and wastewater than recovered nutrients and food. “We looked at the drivers behind people’s reactions, and there is a powerful influence from what we call social norms. Opinions on both recycled water and food were strongly affected by beliefs in their immediate networks.” The surveys were part of the Horizon2020 (H2020) NextGen collaboration that aims to drive the circular economy through a wide range of water-embedded resources, including water, energy and materials. The four-year H2020 project brings together a partnership of 30 organisations to demonstrate technological, business and governance solutions for water in the circular economy.“We looked at the drivers behind people’s reactions, and there is a powerful influence from what we call social norms. Opinions on both recycled water and food were strongly affected by beliefs in their immediate networks.””

(Citation: Interview H.M. Smith and J.A.G. Frijns – New surveys reveal that social acceptance of water reuse isn’t the biggest challange – www.h2oglobalnews.com (2021)28 October)