title: Vision and perception of community on the use of recycled water for household laundry: a case study in Australia.
abstract: This study investigates the community perception of household laundry as a new end use of recycled water in three different locations of Australia through a face to face questionnaire survey (n=478). The study areas were selected based on three categories of (1) non-user, (2) perspective user and (3) current user of recycled water. The survey results indicate that significantly higher number (70%) of the respondents supported the use of recycled water for washing machines (χ(2)=527.40, df=3; p=0.000). Significant positive correlation between the overall support for the new end use and the willingness of the respondents to use recycled water for washing machine was observed among all users groups (r=0.43, p=0.000). However, they had major concerns regarding the effects of recycled water on the aesthetic appearance of cloth, cloth durability, machine durability, odour of the recycled water and cost along with the health issues. The perspective user group had comparatively more reservations and concerns about the effects of recycled water on washing machines than the non-users and the current users (χ(2)=52.73, df=6; p=0.000). Overall, community from all three study areas are willing to welcome this new end use as long as all their major concerns are addressed and safety is assured.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Technology in Water and Wastewater, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2007, Australia.
authors.forename: Bandita
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mainali
authors.forename: Thi Thu Nga
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Pham
authors.forename: Huu Hao
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Ngo
authors.forename: Wenshan
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Clayton
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Miechel
authors.forename: Kelly
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: O'Halloran
authors.forename: Muthu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Muthukaruppan
authors.forename: Adnrzej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Listowski
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001290:Attitude; D001315:Australia; D003625:Data Collection; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007846:Laundering / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D059027:Recycling / Q000379:methods*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014881:Water Supply; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Community; End use; Household laundry; Perception; Recycled water; Vision