Work

Public perception of desalinated versus recycled water in Australia

Year: 2006

Type: conference-paper

Abstract: Water resources are limited in both quantity and quality. The global water cycle is a closed system with water molecules being continuously taken in and excreted by living organisms. In this continuum of recycling takes place an interesting debate regarding the acceptance and suitability of water recycling. Water recycling is the treatment of municipal wastewater for the replenishment of available freshwater resources and consumption. Water recycling hence closes the water cycle on a more local level with the possibility of closing water cycles for individual households, buildings, factories, towns or regions. The motivation for this activity is mostly the realization that human water consumption has increased beyond sustainable levels, resulting in extended periods of ‘drought’, depletion of environmental flows in natural water systems and the decrease in healthy levels in drinking water reservoirs, including groundwater systems.

Source: Edinburgh Research Explorer (University of Edinburgh)

Authors: Sara Dolničar, A.I. Schäfer

Institutions: University of Wollongong, University of Edinburgh

Language: English

Topic: Wastewater Treatment and Reuse

Subfield: Waste Management and Disposal

Field: Environmental Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Clean water and sanitation, Responsible consumption and production

Open Access status: green

Funders: Australian Government, Australian Research Council

Award: Harnessing Eco-Friendly Markets to Protect our Natural Resources - Towards A Demand-Driven Paradigm of Sustainable Tourism