Public perceptions of potable water reuse, regional growth, and water resources management in the Reno-Sparks area of northern Nevada, USA
The Reno-Sparks area of northern Nevada is one of many communities across the globe where water managers are considering the prospect of potable water reuse. Planned potable reuse is the intentional use of highly treated reclaimed to expand local drinking water supplies. Although water managers and...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2019-10-01
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| Series: | City and Environment Interactions |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590252019300157 |
| _version_ | 1819077715255361536 |
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| author | Kerri Jean Ormerod Samantha Redman Scott Kelley |
| author_facet | Kerri Jean Ormerod Samantha Redman Scott Kelley |
| author_sort | Kerri Jean Ormerod |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The Reno-Sparks area of northern Nevada is one of many communities across the globe where water managers are considering the prospect of potable water reuse. Planned potable reuse is the intentional use of highly treated reclaimed to expand local drinking water supplies. Although water managers and city planners increasingly encourage water recycling, potable water reuse remains an uncommon approach to water management that can face stiff opposition from the local public. This article explores the importance of local identity in shaping public perceptions of potable reuse through a case study of the Reno-Sparks area of northern Nevada. To address this, we conducted a community survey of Reno-Sparks area residents in the spring of 2018 to identify the water issues that mattered most to them and assess willingness to drink reclaimed water. Our mixed-methods analysis explored the degree to which self-identification as an urban, suburban, or rural resident influenced support for potable water reuse and evaluated and compared the stated concerns of the respondents. The results indicate residents throughout the region share concerns about future water supplies, including the impact of population growth on future water availability, yet the self-identified suburban residents were significantly more accepting of potable water reuse when compared to their urban or rural counterparts. In conclusion, we suggest that different conceptions of local identity impact public acceptance of potable reuse in the Reno-Sparks area and, furthermore, these place-based identities may have implications for water management in other communities in the western United States and beyond. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-21T19:01:36Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8387ab8bb76844909e419133699ba8c9 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2590-2520 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-21T19:01:36Z |
| publishDate | 2019-10-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | City and Environment Interactions |
| spelling | doaj.art-8387ab8bb76844909e419133699ba8c92022-12-21T18:53:27ZengElsevierCity and Environment Interactions2590-25202019-10-012Public perceptions of potable water reuse, regional growth, and water resources management in the Reno-Sparks area of northern Nevada, USAKerri Jean Ormerod0Samantha Redman1Scott Kelley2Department of Geography, University of Nevada, Reno, Reno, NV 89557, United States of America; University of Nevada Cooperative Extension, University of Nevada, Reno, Reno, NV 89557, United States of America; Corresponding author at: Department of Geography, University of Nevada, Reno, Reno, NV 89557, United States of America.Department of Geography, University of Nevada, Reno, Reno, NV 89557, United States of AmericaDepartment of Geography, University of Nevada, Reno, Reno, NV 89557, United States of AmericaThe Reno-Sparks area of northern Nevada is one of many communities across the globe where water managers are considering the prospect of potable water reuse. Planned potable reuse is the intentional use of highly treated reclaimed to expand local drinking water supplies. Although water managers and city planners increasingly encourage water recycling, potable water reuse remains an uncommon approach to water management that can face stiff opposition from the local public. This article explores the importance of local identity in shaping public perceptions of potable reuse through a case study of the Reno-Sparks area of northern Nevada. To address this, we conducted a community survey of Reno-Sparks area residents in the spring of 2018 to identify the water issues that mattered most to them and assess willingness to drink reclaimed water. Our mixed-methods analysis explored the degree to which self-identification as an urban, suburban, or rural resident influenced support for potable water reuse and evaluated and compared the stated concerns of the respondents. The results indicate residents throughout the region share concerns about future water supplies, including the impact of population growth on future water availability, yet the self-identified suburban residents were significantly more accepting of potable water reuse when compared to their urban or rural counterparts. In conclusion, we suggest that different conceptions of local identity impact public acceptance of potable reuse in the Reno-Sparks area and, furthermore, these place-based identities may have implications for water management in other communities in the western United States and beyond.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590252019300157Community surveyFuture water supplyMixed-methodsReclaimed waterWater issuesWater supply |
| spellingShingle | Kerri Jean Ormerod Samantha Redman Scott Kelley Public perceptions of potable water reuse, regional growth, and water resources management in the Reno-Sparks area of northern Nevada, USA City and Environment Interactions Community survey Future water supply Mixed-methods Reclaimed water Water issues Water supply |
| title | Public perceptions of potable water reuse, regional growth, and water resources management in the Reno-Sparks area of northern Nevada, USA |
| title_full | Public perceptions of potable water reuse, regional growth, and water resources management in the Reno-Sparks area of northern Nevada, USA |
| title_fullStr | Public perceptions of potable water reuse, regional growth, and water resources management in the Reno-Sparks area of northern Nevada, USA |
| title_full_unstemmed | Public perceptions of potable water reuse, regional growth, and water resources management in the Reno-Sparks area of northern Nevada, USA |
| title_short | Public perceptions of potable water reuse, regional growth, and water resources management in the Reno-Sparks area of northern Nevada, USA |
| title_sort | public perceptions of potable water reuse regional growth and water resources management in the reno sparks area of northern nevada usa |
| topic | Community survey Future water supply Mixed-methods Reclaimed water Water issues Water supply |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590252019300157 |
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