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Rosenberg Goldstein RE, Gerdes ME, Fix S, Vivino A, Rainey K, Bernat E. Evaluating the impact of water reuse educational videos on water reuse perceptions using EEG/event related potential. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2024; 349:119560. [PMID: 37979387 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.119560] [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: 05/16/2023] [Revised: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 11/04/2023] [Indexed: 11/20/2023]
Abstract
As climate change and population growth increasingly stress freshwater resources, government agencies and scientists have recognized the importance of water reuse (the beneficial use of reclaimed or recycled water). While end users (municipalities and farmers) are largely open to exploring water reuse, a barrier to using this water source is the public's negative perception, or the 'yuck factor'. Recognizing that water reuse is becoming a necessity, there is an urgent need to determine how to improve public acceptance of this water source. Increasing knowledge has been identified as a critical method for improving the adoption of sustainable practices, but to date, there has been a lack of outcome studies on the ability of water reuse education materials to change perceptions. Previous studies have relied heavily on self-reported concerns and perceptions which are limited by bias and social expectations, and their results have failed to substantially change water reuse education efforts, and by extension failed to substantially improve water reuse perceptions. We propose the integration of psychology for evaluating the effectiveness of water reuse education and outreach efforts. The purpose of this study was to determine if water reuse educational videos modulate perceptions of water reuse terms. Participants were recruited from a university campus and completed pre-intervention surveys on water reuse knowledge, willingness to use recycled water, and preferred water reuse information sources. We then measured changes in neural activity in response to multiple categories of water reuse terms pre- and post-exposure to water reuse education videos using electroencephalogram (EEG). Through EEG we measured event related potential (ERP), which assesses sustained engagement with the cues (late positive potential (LPP) amplitude), and alpha power. Participants also completed a pre/post exposure battery involving five tasks, in randomized order, presented before and after viewing videos. Sixty-eight percent of survey participants had previously heard of water reuse and 91% reported willingness to use recycled water for at least one activity. Participants reported obtaining water reuse information mostly from the internet (77%) and preferred to receive additional information mainly by watching online videos (73%). We observed significant increases in alpha power, corresponding to feelings of relaxation, in response to seven of eight water reuse term categories post-video exposure. These findings show that water reuse educational videos can change perceptions of water reuse. Our results point to the possibility of validating and increasing the effectiveness of water reuse education materials using sophisticated neurocognitive measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel E Rosenberg Goldstein
- Maryland Institute for Applied Environmental Health, University of Maryland School of Public Health, College Park, MD, 20742, USA.
| | - Megan E Gerdes
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Maryland School of Public Health, College Park, MD, 20742, USA
| | - Spencer Fix
- Department of Psychology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20742, USA
| | - Anthony Vivino
- Department of Psychology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20742, USA
| | - Katelin Rainey
- Maryland Institute for Applied Environmental Health, University of Maryland School of Public Health, College Park, MD, 20742, USA
| | - Edward Bernat
- Department of Psychology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20742, USA
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Shemer H, Wald S, Semiat R. Challenges and Solutions for Global Water Scarcity. MEMBRANES 2023; 13:612. [PMID: 37367816 DOI: 10.3390/membranes13060612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2023] [Revised: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023]
Abstract
Climate change, global population growth, and rising standards of living have put immense strain on natural resources, resulting in the unsecured availability of water as an existential resource. Access to high-quality drinking water is crucial for daily life, food production, industry, and nature. However, the demand for freshwater resources exceeds the available supply, making it essential to utilize all alternative water resources such as the desalination of brackish water, seawater, and wastewater. Reverse osmosis desalination is a highly efficient method to increase water supplies and make clean, affordable water accessible to millions of people. However, to ensure universal access to water, various measures need to be implemented, including centralized governance, educational campaigns, improvements in water catchment and harvesting technologies, infrastructure development, irrigation and agricultural practices, pollution control, investments in novel water technologies, and transboundary water cooperation. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of measures for utilizing alternative water sources, with particular emphasis on seawater desalination and wastewater reclamation techniques. In particular, membrane-based technologies are critically reviewed, with a focus on their energy consumption, costs, and environmental impacts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hilla Shemer
- The Wolfson Department of Chemical Engineering, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 3200003, Israel
| | - Shlomo Wald
- Wald Industries, Tor HaAviv 1, Rehovot 7632101, Israel
| | - Raphael Semiat
- The Wolfson Department of Chemical Engineering, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 3200003, Israel
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Antwi SH, Rolston A, Linnane S, Getty D. Communicating water availability to improve awareness and implementation of water conservation: A study of the 2018 and 2020 drought events in the Republic of Ireland. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 807:150865. [PMID: 34627888 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.150865] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2021] [Revised: 10/03/2021] [Accepted: 10/04/2021] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Public communication on water availability is pivotal in highlighting water conservation needs as droughts impact water resources for critical use, such as drinking water quality and accessibility. This paper presents the results of research into public communication on water availability and the implementation of water conservation measures in the Republic of Ireland. The paper analyses social media (Twitter and Facebook) communication and newspaper publications from 2018 to 2020 on water conservation and drought events, in addition, to undertaking six key stakeholder interviews made up of journalists (n = 4), political representatives (n = 1), and a water and communication expert (n = 1). Our analysis indicates that Irish newspapers' coverage of drought and water availability was greater in 2018 compared to 2020. Uncertainty and risk was also identified as the prevalent frame, used by newspapers to cover drought events. Although the sentiments in communications on drought by the national utility, Irish Water, were scored as positive (63%), its engagement with the public on social media was considerably limited. Accessible information platforms that provides data and information on water resources were also found; nevertheless, no comprehensive national drought information management system nor national drought plan have been developed. Based on our findings, we demonstrate the need for public engagement and collaborative efforts to communicate drought and water conservation measures led by An Fóram Uisce|The Water Forum. Recommendations made in this study also aim to influence decision-making and awareness among stakeholders regarding drought communication on water conservation and resources availability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarpong Hammond Antwi
- Centre for Freshwater and Environmental Studies, Dundalk Institute of Technology, Dundalk, Co. Louth A91K584, Ireland.
| | - Alec Rolston
- Goyder Institute for Water Research, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia
| | - Suzanne Linnane
- Centre for Freshwater and Environmental Studies, Dundalk Institute of Technology, Dundalk, Co. Louth A91K584, Ireland
| | - David Getty
- Centre for Freshwater and Environmental Studies, Dundalk Institute of Technology, Dundalk, Co. Louth A91K584, Ireland
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Pharmaceutical and Personal Care Products in Different Matrices: Occurrence, Pathways, and Treatment Processes. WATER 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/w13091159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
The procedures for analyzing pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) are typically tedious and expensive and thus, it is necessary to synthesize all available information from previously conducted research. An extensive collection of PPCP data from the published literature was compiled to determine the occurrence, pathways, and the effectiveness of current treatment technologies for the removal of PPCPs in water and wastewater. Approximately 90% of the compiled published papers originated from Asia, Europe, and the North American regions. The incomplete removal of PPCPs in different water and wastewater treatment processes was widely reported, thus resulting in the occurrence of PPCP compounds in various environmental compartments. Caffeine, carbamazepine, diclofenac, ibuprofen, triclosan, and triclocarban were among the most commonly reported compounds detected in water and solid matrices. Trace concentrations of PPCPs were also detected on plants and animal tissues, indicating the bioaccumulative properties of some PPCP compounds. A significant lack of studies regarding the presence of PPCPs in animal and plant samples was identified in the review. Furthermore, there were still knowledge gaps on the ecotoxicity, sub-lethal effects, and effective treatment processes for PPCPs. The knowledge gaps identified in this study can be used to devise a more effective research paradigm and guidelines for PPCP management.
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Mahmoud-Elhaj D, Tanner B, Sabatini D, Feltz A. Measuring objective knowledge of potable recycled water. JOURNAL OF COMMUNITY PSYCHOLOGY 2020; 48:2033-2052. [PMID: 32613613 DOI: 10.1002/jcop.22402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2020] [Revised: 06/01/2020] [Accepted: 06/05/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Reliable clean drinking water is becoming increasingly scarce. One potential additional source of drinking water is recycled water. However, public acceptance of potable recycled drinking water is low. One likely factor involved in the acceptance of recycled drinking water is objective knowledge about recycled water. In three studies (N = 229, 590, and 200), we developed a 34-item measure of objective knowledge of recycled drinking water. The objective knowledge measure was often a strong and unique predictor of intentions to accept and use recycled drinking water compared to other prominent factors including disgust and subjective knowledge of recycled water. Measuring knowledge of recycled drinking water holds the potential to estimate how and whether educational interventions aimed at increasing acceptance of recycled drinking water programs work.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Braden Tanner
- Department of Psychology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Canada
| | - David Sabatini
- WaTER Center, School of Civil Engineering and Environmental Science, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Canada
| | - Adam Feltz
- Department of Psychology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Canada
- Center for Applied Social Research, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Canada
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Hartley K, Tortajada C, Biswas AK. A formal model concerning policy strategies to build public acceptance of potable water reuse. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2019; 250:109505. [PMID: 31518799 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2019.109505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2019] [Revised: 08/29/2019] [Accepted: 08/31/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Water stress is an increasing burden in regions with arid climates, aquifer vulnerability, and erratic rainfall. Population growth and competing domestic, industrial, and agricultural uses are also stretching the capacity of water supply systems. Beyond groundwater extraction, surface water overuse, and inter-basin transfers, governments are exploring alternative sources amidst looming supply threats. These alternatives include desalination, greywater recycling, and reclaimed or recycled wastewater. The latter, also known as water reuse with varying levels of treatment, has been applied for irrigation, street cleaning, industrial processes, and groundwater recharge. However, reused water for potable purposes has seen limited uptake, due in part to lack of public acceptance. This article examines the dynamics of public acceptance for potable water reuse. The article's theoretical contribution is a formal mathematical model for understanding public acceptance of water reuse. The model conceptualizes how governments, water utilities and the public interact to facilitate or hinder acceptance of water supply sources, including potable reuse. The article concludes by applying the model to cases of water reuse in Windhoek, Namibia, and Singapore.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kris Hartley
- The Education University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
| | - Cecilia Tortajada
- Institute of Water Policy, National University of Singapore, Singapore
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