Water reuse: policy implications of a decade of residential reclaimed water use in Tucson, Arizona

Abstract

This study seeks to understand the policy implications of over a decade of experience with reclaimed water used for residential outdoor irrigation. Our survey results demonstrate a high level of satisfaction and support for the expansion of reclaimed water for irrigation. The main drivers of satisfaction include low to moderate cost and the ability to enjoy residential landscaping vegetation in the context of water scarcity. Familiarity and satisfaction with non-potable use are insufficient to overcome uncertainty and gain support for potable uses of reclaimed water. This reluctance must be addressed by policy makers seeking to implement broader reclaimed water projects.

Keywords:

• water reuse
• water recycling
• public perception
• risk
• policy
• decision making

Acknowledgements

This material is based in part upon work supported by the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) under Grant No. EFRI-0835930, the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) project SGP-HD #005 which is supported by NSF Grant GEO-0642841, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Sectoral Applications Research Program. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of our supporters. The authors would like to thank Kerri Jean Ormerod for her thoughtful comments.