Public perceptions of potable water reuse, regional growth, and water resources management in the Reno-Sparks area of northern Nevada, USA

Urban water managers are increasingly interested in incorporating reclaimed water into drinking supplies, particularly in rapidly growing arid and semi-arid urban areas, such as the western United States. Northern Nevada is one location that is considering augmenting drinking water supplies with reclaimed water, a practice that is known as planned potable water reuse. Potable water reuse can expand water supply and reduce wastewater disposal. However, past studies have shown that the introduction of potable reclaimed water can be controversial and requires an understanding of public perceptions of the resource prior to implementation. This study explores the factors that influence whether or not respondents in northern Nevada express willingness to drink reclaimed water. We pay specific attention to the degree to which self-identification as an urban, suburban, or rural resident influences how people consider using treated wastewater for both potable and non-potable purposes. To address this, we conducted a survey to assess community perceptions of reclaimed water use and applications in northern Nevada in the spring of 2018. We find that years spent living in the home and a respondent being female are negative and significant predictors of being willing to drink reclaimed water, while having heard of reclaimed water before and self-identification as a suburban resident are positive and significant predictors. As the region becomes more developed, particularly in its growing suburbs, it is essential to understand the nature of the interests and concerns regarding water resources and the expanded use of reclaimed water.

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The Role of Wastewater Reclamation and Reuse in the USA

Water Science & Technology ◽

10.2166/wst.1991.0661 ◽

1991 ◽

Vol 23 (10-12) ◽

pp. 2049-2059 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Takashi Asano ◽

George Tchobanoglous

Keyword(s):

Water Resources ◽

Water Resources Management ◽

Water Reuse ◽

Wastewater Reuse ◽

The United States ◽

Control Measures ◽

Wastewater Reclamation ◽

Resources Management ◽

Wastewater Reclamation And Reuse

IAWPRC's Specialist Group on Wastewater Reclamation, Recycling and Reuse (Water Reuse Group) is conducting a day-long Water Reuse Seminar on August 1, 1990 at the 15th Biennial Conference in Kyoto, Japan. This paper is prepared to review the role of wastewater reclamation and reuse in water resources management in the U.S.A., and to serve as an introduction to the theme for the Seminar. Following a brief summary of available water resources in the United States, the role of wastewater reclamation and reuse is discussed in terms of planning and implementation. Major wastewater reuse categories are identified and discussed. The emphasis of this paper is on wastewater reuse in the context of the water supply benefits to water resources management rather than on water pollution control measures. The overriding importance in wastewater reclamation and reuse is to protect public health and to mitigate health risks. Accordingly, wastewater reclamation criteria for health protection are also presented.

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Translating the ‘water scarcity – water reuse’ situation into an information system for decision-making

Sustainability Science ◽

10.1007/s11625-021-01077-9 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Andrea B. Müller ◽

Tamara Avellán ◽

Jochen Schanze

Keyword(s):

Decision Making ◽

Information System ◽

Water Resources ◽

Water Resources Management ◽

Water Scarcity ◽

Water Reuse ◽

Resources Management ◽

The Social ◽

Specific Interpretation ◽

Lane Based

AbstractOne key challenge of water resources management is the identification and processing of the information necessary for decision-making. This article aims to provide avenues for translating a ‘water scarcity–water reuse’ (WS–WR) situation into an information system. It is dedicated to supporting an integrated assessment in decision-making with the final goal of optimising water scarcity risk reduction and water reuse sustainability. The approach combines the following two strands: (1) specific interpretation of systems thinking and (2) systemic characterisation and interlinkage of indicators. The result is an analytical concept that translates the WS–WR situation into an information system consisting of two structured components, a multi-layer (ML) and a lane-based (LB) approach. While the multi-layer approach supports the description of the elements of the biophysical and information systems such as endpoints and descriptors, respectively, the lane-based approach aids in understanding the importance of indicators within the entire system and their distribution across risk and sustainability realms. The findings from a generic exemplification of the analytical concept depict the feasibility of identifying system-based endpoints representing the WS–WR situation and their translation via descriptors to an interlinked indicator set to jointly assess water scarcity risk and sustainability of the water reuse measures. Therefore, this analytical concept supports addressing the water resources management information challenge via a structured representation of the system’s complexity and the quantification and visualisation of interlinkages between the social, economic, and environmental dimensions of water scarcity risk and water reuse sustainability.

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Water reuse and integrated water resources management in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain

Water Practice & Technology ◽

10.2166/wpt.2008.048 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 3 (2) ◽

Author(s):

R. Mujeriego ◽

J. López

Keyword(s):

Water Resources ◽

Water Resources Management ◽

Water Reuse ◽

Flood Control ◽

Reclaimed Water ◽

Integrated Water Resources Management ◽

Partial Substitution ◽

Management Options ◽

Resources Management ◽

Essential Components

Water reclamation and reuse have become essential components of water resources management in Vitoria-Gasteiz, by helping to overcome historical water deficits experienced by the city with respect to water allocations set in 1973 with the Metropolitan Area of Bilbao, for the conjunctive use of the Urrunaga-Ullibarri reservoirs system. By generating a reliable flow of 35,000° m3/day of high quality reclaimed water, the options available for integrated water resources management have widely expanded as to allow in-stream river flow substitution, agricultural irrigation, seasonal storage of reclaimed water, and more favorable flood control policies for the Urrunaga-Ullibarri reservoirs system. Those management options have been made possible thanks to the implementation of an extensive and elaborated water distribution and storage system (reuse component) that allows distribution of reclaimed water to 10,000 ha of farmland, seasonal storage in a 7 hm3 reservoir, partial substitution of in-stream river water, and the potential consideration of water augmentation in reservoirs. The continuous support and promotion by agricultural users, the excellent operation and maintenance records of the project, and its favorable economic features have been instrumental in assuring a wide acceptance of this innovative water management option, under the Vitoria-Gasteiz social, economic, geographical and water resources conditions.

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ECOLOGY AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN LOCAL BUSINESS:SIMULATION OF LOW IMPACT DEVELOPMENT IN SURAKARTA REGENCY

eBA Journal: Journal Economics, Bussines and Accounting ◽

10.32492/eba.v4i1.542 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 4 (1) ◽

pp. 32-38

Author(s):

Bhimo Rizky Samudro ◽

Yogi Pasca Pratama

Keyword(s):

Water Resources ◽

Water Resources Management ◽

River Flow ◽

Low Impact Development ◽

Development Model ◽

Business Activity ◽

Resources Management ◽

Central Java ◽

Specific Culture ◽

Central Java Province

This paper will describe the function of water resources to support business activities in Surakarta regency, Central Java province. Surakarta is a business city in Central Java province with small business enterprises and specific culture. This city has a famous river with the name is Bengawan Solo. Bengawan Solo is a River Flow Regional (RFR) to support business activities in Surakarta regency. Concious with the function, societies and local government in Surakarta must to manage the sustainability of River Flow Regional (RFR) Bengawan Solo. It is important to manage the sustainability of business activity in Surakarta regency. According to the condition in Surakarta regency, this paper will explain how the simulation of Low Impact Development Model in Surakarta regency. Low Impact Development is a model that can manage and evaluate sustainability of water resources in River Flow Regional (RFR). Low Impact Development can analys goals, structures, and process water resources management. The system can also evaluate results and impacts of water resources management. From this study, we hope that Low Impact Development can manage water resources in River Flow Regional (RFR) Bengawan Solo.

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