Public perception of alternative water sources and water usage : a case study of desalination and recycled Water facilities

Abstract

The importance of public acceptance within the decision-making process for large-scale, municipal water projects is widely understood and documented. In order to assess the role of public perception on the acceptance of alternative water sources, this paper broadly evaluates public preference for alternative water source and water conservation programs through a user-based approach. Choice-based conjoint analysis was utilized as a quantitative method to determine which design attributes make alternative water sources, specifically desalination and recycled water facilities, more appealing to communities. An online survey was taken by 306 respondents in California, Florida, and Texas. Respondents were analyzed on an aggregate level to identify overall perception of, familiarity with, and preference for desalinated and recycled water. The results indicate significant importance placed on specific attributes such as cost and environmental impact, as opposed to the water program type and location of the proposed facility. Findings based on subpopulations of respondents suggest that preference between water program types were fairly consistent among different demographics, but varied on characteristics such as increased familiarity and perceived reliability of currently provided tap water.