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Xu XY, Hu YB, Gao YX, Jia QD. Exploring the recycled water acceptance based on the technological perspective of UTAUT2: a hybrid analytical approach. Front Psychol 2024; 15:1384635. [PMID: 38957883 PMCID: PMC11217519 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1384635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2024] [Accepted: 06/06/2024] [Indexed: 07/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction The development of advanced sewage technologies empowers the industry to produce high-quality recycled water, which greatly influences human's life and health. Thus, this study investigates the mechanism of individuals' adoption of recycled water from the technology adoption perspective. Methods Employing the mixed method of structural equation modeling and artificial neural network analysis, we examined a research model developed from the extended Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT2) framework. To examine the research model, this study employs a leading web-survey company (Sojump) to collect 308 valid samples from the residents in mainland China. Results The structural equation modeling results verified the associations between the six predictors (performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence, facilitating conditions, environmental motivation, and price value), individuals' cognitive and emotional attitudes, and acceptance intention. The artificial neural network analysis validates and complements the structural equation modeling results by unveiling the importance rank of the significant determinants of the acceptance decisions. Discussion The study provides theoretical implications for recycled water research and useful insights for practitioners and policymakers to reduce the environmental hazards of water scarcity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Yu Xu
- School of Economics and Finance, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Yi-Bo Hu
- School of Business, Xi'an International University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Ya-Xuan Gao
- School of Economics and Management, Harbin Institute of Technology, Shenzhen, China
| | - Qing-Dan Jia
- School of Economics and Finance, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
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2
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Lebu S, Lee A, Salzberg A, Bauza V. Adaptive strategies to enhance water security and resilience in low- and middle-income countries: A critical review. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 925:171520. [PMID: 38460697 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2023] [Revised: 02/16/2024] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 03/11/2024]
Abstract
The water sector is facing unprecedented pressures as increased environmental and anthropogenic challenges, such as climate change and rapid urbanization, impact the availability and predictability of safe drinking water. There is a need for practitioners and policymakers to integrate water security and resilience (WS&R) factors into programming to sustain investments in drinking water systems to support associated economic, security, and public health benefits. In response to intensifying impacts from WS&R risks, communities around the world are developing adaptive strategies, and a critical review of these strategies may provide lessons that can be implemented at scale. In this critical review, we systematically screened over 9000 peer-reviewed and grey literature articles and extracted data from relevant studies that propose, pilot, and/or evaluate adaptations in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and evaluated the suitability of each adaptation for different contexts. We created a portfolio of adaptive strategies from over 75 LMICs to inform practitioners and policymakers in enhancing the resilience of drinking water systems. Over 20 adaptations were identified, including strategies such as stormwater management, wastewater reuse, non-revenue water reductions, water pricing, and public awareness campaigns. We categorized adaptations by function (improving water management, augmenting existing supplies, reducing water demand) and scale (household, municipal, regional) to provide recommendations tailored to local needs. For each adaptation, we highlighted associated strengths, weaknesses, barriers to adoption, and enabling environments for successful implementation. We propose a novel decision-support tool, called STEP WS&R, that provides a consistent and replicable process for informing high-level investment and policy choices around WS&R. This critical review presents recommendations for practitioners and policymakers to invest in WS&R adaptations, catered to shared risks and contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Lebu
- The Water Institute, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, USA.
| | - Allison Lee
- The Water Institute, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, USA
| | - Aaron Salzberg
- The Water Institute, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, USA
| | - Valerie Bauza
- The Water Institute, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, USA
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3
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Yalin D, Craddock HA, Assouline S, Ben Mordechay E, Ben-Gal A, Bernstein N, Chaudhry RM, Chefetz B, Fatta-Kassinos D, Gawlik BM, Hamilton KA, Khalifa L, Kisekka I, Klapp I, Korach-Rechtman H, Kurtzman D, Levy GJ, Maffettone R, Malato S, Manaia CM, Manoli K, Moshe OF, Rimelman A, Rizzo L, Sedlak DL, Shnit-Orland M, Shtull-Trauring E, Tarchitzky J, Welch-White V, Williams C, McLain J, Cytryn E. Mitigating risks and maximizing sustainability of treated wastewater reuse for irrigation. WATER RESEARCH X 2023; 21:100203. [PMID: 38098886 PMCID: PMC10719582 DOI: 10.1016/j.wroa.2023.100203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2023] [Revised: 09/08/2023] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
Scarcity of freshwater for agriculture has led to increased utilization of treated wastewater (TWW), establishing it as a significant and reliable source of irrigation water. However, years of research indicate that if not managed adequately, TWW may deleteriously affect soil functioning and plant productivity, and pose a hazard to human and environmental health. This review leverages the experience of researchers, stakeholders, and policymakers from Israel, the United-States, and Europe to present a holistic, multidisciplinary perspective on maximizing the benefits from municipal TWW use for irrigation. We specifically draw on the extensive knowledge gained in Israel, a world leader in agricultural TWW implementation. The first two sections of the work set the foundation for understanding current challenges involved with the use of TWW, detailing known and emerging agronomic and environmental issues (such as salinity and phytotoxicity) and public health risks (such as contaminants of emerging concern and pathogens). The work then presents solutions to address these challenges, including technological and agronomic management-based solutions as well as source control policies. The concluding section presents suggestions for the path forward, emphasizing the importance of improving links between research and policy, and better outreach to the public and agricultural practitioners. We use this platform as a call for action, to form a global harmonized data system that will centralize scientific findings on agronomic, environmental and public health effects of TWW irrigation. Insights from such global collaboration will help to mitigate risks, and facilitate more sustainable use of TWW for food production in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Yalin
- A Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, The Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Hillary A. Craddock
- Department of Health Policy and Management, School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Shmuel Assouline
- Institute of Soil, Water and Environmental Sciences, Agriculture Research Organization (ARO) – The Volcani Institute, Rishon LeZion, Israel
| | - Evyatar Ben Mordechay
- The Robert H Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Alon Ben-Gal
- Institute of Soil, Water and Environmental Sciences, Agricultural Research Organization (ARO) – The Volcani Institute, Gilat Reseach Center, Israel
| | - Nirit Bernstein
- Institute of Soil, Water and Environmental Sciences, Agriculture Research Organization (ARO) – The Volcani Institute, Rishon LeZion, Israel
| | | | - Benny Chefetz
- The Robert H Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Despo Fatta-Kassinos
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, NIREAS-International Water Research Center, University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Bernd M. Gawlik
- Ocean and Water Unit, Joint Research Centre, European Commission, Ispra, Italy
| | - Kerry A. Hamilton
- The School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment and The Biodesign Institute Center for Environmental Health Engineering, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | - Leron Khalifa
- Institute of Soil, Water and Environmental Sciences, Agriculture Research Organization (ARO) – The Volcani Institute, Rishon LeZion, Israel
| | - Isaya Kisekka
- Department of Land Air and Water Resources, University of California, Davis, California, USA
| | - Iftach Klapp
- Institute of Agricultural engineering, Agriculture Research Organization (ARO) – The Volcani Institute, Rishon LeZion, Israel
| | | | - Daniel Kurtzman
- Institute of Soil, Water and Environmental Sciences, Agriculture Research Organization (ARO) – The Volcani Institute, Rishon LeZion, Israel
| | - Guy J. Levy
- Institute of Soil, Water and Environmental Sciences, Agriculture Research Organization (ARO) – The Volcani Institute, Rishon LeZion, Israel
| | - Roberta Maffettone
- Ocean and Water Unit, Joint Research Centre, European Commission, Ispra, Italy
| | - Sixto Malato
- CIEMAT-Plataforma Solar de Almería, Ctra. Sen´es km 4, 04200 Tabernas, Almería, Spain
| | - Célia M. Manaia
- Universidade Católica Portuguesa, CBQF - Centro de Biotecnologia e Química Fina – Laboratório Associado, Escola Superior de Biotecnologia, Porto, Portugal
| | - Kyriakos Manoli
- NIREAS-International Water Research Center, University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Orah F. Moshe
- Department of Soil Conservation, Soil Erosion Research Center, Ministry of Agriculture, Rishon LeZion, Israel
| | - Andrew Rimelman
- PG Environmental. 1113 Washington Avenue, Suite 200. Golden, CO 80401, USA
| | - Luigi Rizzo
- Water Science and Technology (WaSTe) Group, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II 132, 84084 Fisciano, SA, Italy
| | - David L. Sedlak
- Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720 USA
| | - Maya Shnit-Orland
- Extension Service, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Israel
| | - Eliav Shtull-Trauring
- Institute of Soil, Water and Environmental Sciences, Agriculture Research Organization (ARO) – The Volcani Institute, Rishon LeZion, Israel
| | - Jorge Tarchitzky
- The Robert H Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
| | | | - Clinton Williams
- US Arid-Land Agricultural Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Maricopa, AZ, USA
| | - Jean McLain
- Department of Environmental Science, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
| | - Eddie Cytryn
- Institute of Soil, Water and Environmental Sciences, Agriculture Research Organization (ARO) – The Volcani Institute, Rishon LeZion, Israel
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Liu Y, Li G, Zeng P, Zhang X, Tian T, Feng H, Che Y. Challenge of rainwater harvesting in Shanghai, China: A public psychological perspective. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2022; 318:115584. [PMID: 35753131 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.115584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2022] [Revised: 04/16/2022] [Accepted: 06/17/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Rainwater harvesting systems (RWHs) are vital to alleviate water shortages, especially in arid regions. However, research on the application of RWHs in humid regions is necessary because they may also face the challenges of water supply shortages, urban flooding, runoff pollution, and heat island phenomena. Public acceptance plays a key role in the reuse of water resources. This study takes Shanghai, China, as an example and explores the public intention and motivation to use RWHs in humid regions by adding six psychological factors to the technology acceptance model (TAM). The results indicate that social influence, subjective knowledge, and the technological environment are direct drivers. Other psychological factors influence the intention to use through the moderation of perceived usefulness and attitude. The total effect of social influence, subjective knowledge, and social trust are essential for RWHs implementation. However, the technical environment and perceived risk may be psychological barriers to accepting RWHs. In addition, there is no significant effect of the perceived cost. The findings provide critical insights for policymakers to understand the public's attitudes and intrinsic motivations to address the challenges of rainwater harvesting in a humid region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaoyi Liu
- School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China; Shanghai Key Lab for Urban Ecological Processes and Eco-Restoration, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China; Institute of Eco-Chongming (IEC), Shanghai, 200062, China
| | - Gen Li
- School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China; Shanghai Key Lab for Urban Ecological Processes and Eco-Restoration, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China; Institute of Eco-Chongming (IEC), Shanghai, 200062, China
| | - Peng Zeng
- School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China; Shanghai Key Lab for Urban Ecological Processes and Eco-Restoration, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China; Institute of Eco-Chongming (IEC), Shanghai, 200062, China
| | - Xinyu Zhang
- Shanghai Chengtou Raw Water Co., Ltd., Shanghai, 200125, China
| | - Tian Tian
- School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China; Shanghai Key Lab for Urban Ecological Processes and Eco-Restoration, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China; Institute of Eco-Chongming (IEC), Shanghai, 200062, China
| | - Haoyuan Feng
- School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China; Shanghai Key Lab for Urban Ecological Processes and Eco-Restoration, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China; Institute of Eco-Chongming (IEC), Shanghai, 200062, China
| | - Yue Che
- School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China; Shanghai Key Lab for Urban Ecological Processes and Eco-Restoration, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China; Institute of Eco-Chongming (IEC), Shanghai, 200062, China.
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5
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Cagno E, Garrone P, Negri M, Rizzuni A. Adoption of water reuse technologies: An assessment under different regulatory and operational scenarios. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2022; 317:115389. [PMID: 35653847 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.115389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2021] [Revised: 05/15/2022] [Accepted: 05/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Water reuse technologies may alleviate the water scarcity problems that affect many world regions, but their adoption is still limited. In particular, key actors in the adoption of water reuse technologies are water utilities, that provide both urban water and wastewater treatment services. Water utilities are embedded in the urban water system, which includes several stakeholders (urban water users, citizens at large, the environment) that may drive or pose barriers to water reuse adoption. Therefore, to ensure a smooth introduction of water reuse technologies, it is fundamental to understand how water reuse interacts with the existing urban water system and impacts its stakeholders. This paper contributes to the ongoing debate on water reuse by conceptualizing the interaction between water reuse technologies and the urban water system and its stakeholders, and addressing the adoption decision of water utilities by assessing its economic and environmental consequences. Based on a review of literature, policy and other secondary documents, and on primary data coming from interviews with experts from a water utility operating in Southern Italy, the study models the utility's response to a shift from urban to reuse water. It then simulates how reuse water introduction impacts on the utility and other stakeholders of the water system, under various regulatory and operational scenarios defined through a thorough analysis of policy documents and literature. Results show that the adoption of water reuse reduces the utility's margin by cannibalizing urban water demand, but appropriate policy measures may enhance the economic sustainability of reuse. System-level performances, such as impact on freshwater savings, costs for users, effects on the public budget, are also assessed, showing how different regulatory options moderate the intensity of impacts for the different stakeholders of the water system. Furthermore, the adoption of reuse water by the most distant users is found to enhance the economic sustainability of reuse and positively impact the utility's margin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enrico Cagno
- Department of Management, Economics and Industrial Engineering, Politecnico di Milano, Via Lambruschini, 4/B, 20156, Milan, Italy
| | - Paola Garrone
- Department of Management, Economics and Industrial Engineering, Politecnico di Milano, Via Lambruschini, 4/B, 20156, Milan, Italy
| | - Marta Negri
- Department of Management, Economics and Industrial Engineering, Politecnico di Milano, Via Lambruschini, 4/B, 20156, Milan, Italy
| | - Andrea Rizzuni
- Department of Management, Economics and Industrial Engineering, Politecnico di Milano, Via Lambruschini, 4/B, 20156, Milan, Italy.
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Duque-Acevedo M, Belmonte-Ureña LJ, Terán-Yépez E, Camacho-Ferre F. Sustainability and circularity in fruit and vegetable production. Perceptions and practices of reduction and valorization of agricultural waste biomass in south-eastern Spain. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2022; 316:115270. [PMID: 35597214 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.115270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2022] [Revised: 04/25/2022] [Accepted: 05/07/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
This study aims to conduct an exploratory and comparative analysis between Fruit and Vegetable Producer Organizations (FVPOs) and fruit and vegetable producers that are not part of these organizations (Non-FVPOs) regarding the prioritization, perception, and adoption of sustainable and circular practices. For this purpose, data was collected from both groups through an online survey. Statistical techniques for the comparison of two independent groups (chi-square test, Fisher's exact test, and Mann-Whitney U test) were used to examine the differences on a sample of 14 FVPOs and 22 Non-FVPOs from Spain. Although the results show more similarities than differences between the two groups, they highlight that FVPOs are more likely to prioritize environmental factors and implement both green manuring and biodegradable raffia as the main Agricultural Waste Biomass (AWB) reduction and/or valorization practices. In addition, the findings point to the relevance of environmental considerations and specifically to the Sustainable and Circular Production Models (SCPMs) as an alternative to the traditional fruit and vegetable production system. Theoretically, the results mainly contradict resource and first mover advantage arguments by revealing that more resourceful organizations do not necessarily possess better environmental management. This study also provides innovative information and relevant contributions for governments. It allows them to identify aspects that should be strengthened in relation to policies, regulatory frameworks, and/or strategies that promote sustainable and circular production systems for both FVPOs and Non-FVPOs. In addition, it contributes with implications, for organizations and farmers, how to improve actions and opportunities to advance the transition to SCPMs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mónica Duque-Acevedo
- Department of Agronomy and Sustainable Protected Agriculture Research Network, University of Almería, 04120, Almería, Spain; Department of Economy and Business, Sustainable Protected Agriculture Research Network, University of Almería, 04120, Almería, Spain.
| | - Luis J Belmonte-Ureña
- Department of Economy and Business, Sustainable Protected Agriculture Research Network, University of Almería, 04120, Almería, Spain.
| | - Eduardo Terán-Yépez
- Department of Economics and Business, CIMEDES Research Centre, University of Almeria (ceiA3), 04120, Almeria, Spain.
| | - Francisco Camacho-Ferre
- Department of Agronomy and Sustainable Protected Agriculture Research Network, University of Almería, 04120, Almería, Spain.
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Estévez S, González-García S, Feijoo G, Moreira MT. How decentralized treatment can contribute to the symbiosis between environmental protection and resource recovery. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 812:151485. [PMID: 34742805 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.151485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2021] [Revised: 10/15/2021] [Accepted: 11/02/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Challenges associated with the sustainability of the water cycle pose new opportunities for resource recovery and greater environmental protection. While centralized wastewater treatment plants must evolve in their design and operation to adapt to a scenario of increasing demand for water, resources and energy, the decentralized approach emerges as an option to be considered in small communities or developing residential areas where bioenergy production can be improved through the recovery of organic matter in segregated streams or where the investment in the sewer network for connection to a centralized facility may be technologically or economically unfeasible. The main objective of this work is to evaluate the environmental and economic profile of a hybrid-decentralized configuration for the purpose of efficient wastewater management and resource recovery and its comparative evaluation with the centralized treatment scenario. Beyond water reclamation, decentralized treatment offers the possibility of valorization of digestate streams as nutrient sources for horticultural or ornamental crops in the vicinity of the plant. Based on the results of the environmental profile, this manuscript shows that the decentralized treatment approach is in line with the philosophy and guidelines of the circular economy, as it allows the use of reclaimed water and biofertilizers under safe and environmental-friendly conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofía Estévez
- Department of Chemical Engineering, CRETUS, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
| | - Sara González-García
- Department of Chemical Engineering, CRETUS, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Gumersindo Feijoo
- Department of Chemical Engineering, CRETUS, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - María Teresa Moreira
- Department of Chemical Engineering, CRETUS, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
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