Acceptability of reclaimed municipal wastewater in cities: evidence from India's National Capital Region

Abstract

Willingness to reuse reclaimed municipal wastewater was ascertained through a questionnaire completed by 424 respondents, opinions of 17 experts, and interviews with 15 farmers. Information was collected to assess their knowledge of water scarcity and to determine the influence of demographics, correlation to perceived risk, willingness, challenges, and barriers related to the acceptance of reclaimed water. Most respondents were receptive to the idea of using it for purposes other than drinking, and ‘water conservative’ individuals were inclined towards using it even for drinking. Farmers were concerned about its quality and implications for the health of using it for irrigation. Effective communication between authorities and end-users can promote the idea of reusing greywater and reclaimed water for domestic use, and, eventually, for drinking. These findings will be useful in developing an integrated, practical, and strategic framework for treating wastewater for reuse in other cities not only in India but also in other developing countries. HIGHLIGHTS Water-conserving people are more inclined to use reclaimed water for drinking.; The quality of water supply is a major concern by all stakeholders in the study region.; Effective information dissemination positively influences the perception of reclaimed water.; A significant percentage of urban residents are aware of water sustainability risks.;

Keywords

• stakeholder perception
• urban communities
• wastewater reuse
• water-use behaviour