Determinants of the acceptance of domestic use of recycled water by use type

Abstract

In the circular economy model, the recycling of water is an alternative option that can reduce the pressure on water resources and guarantee water supply. This water policy measure is currently widespread in agriculture, but thus far few countries have opted for the domestic use of recycled water. In part, this is because it is the source of water with the lowest levels of public acceptance, which poses a threat to the success of the necessary investment. We analyse the degree of acceptance of recycled water for different domestic uses. The main contribution of this study is the analysis of the determinants of acceptance of recycled water by use type. The research was based on data from a questionnaire given to 844 university students in Andalusia, southern Spain. Results are obtained from ordinary least squares regressions that relate the determinants of recycled water acceptance to each of the water use classes. The 'yuck factor'—variously defined as ‘disgust’ or ‘psychological repugnance’—and the perceived risk are found to be the main determinants of the low degree of acceptance of recycled water for ingestion by people and pets. For other uses, such as body washing, laundry and cleaning, environ- mental awareness stands out as a determining factor. The main conclusion is that if au- thorities were to opt for measures to promote the use of recycled water, they should take into account the fact that the reluctance to use recycled water and the determinants of acceptance differ according to the intended use