Most Americans have limited knowledge about their drinking water supply,but they are concerned about it, and believe recycling water is something that should be considered according to a recent survey. However, Americans are less accepting of drinking recycled wastewater in a practice known as toilet-to-tap, the survey found.
With clean water growing scarce in much of the world, and with shortages possible in 36 U.S. states in the next year, according to the General Accountability Office, the survey found 66 percent of Americans feel positive about water re-use. Eighty-three percent of Americans surveyed said they were concerned about the availability of clean water in the future. The online survey of 3,000 people in the United States, Singapore and China showed Americans’ understanding of water issues lags behind those surveyed in the other two countries.
Wen Americans were asked about having wastewater recycled into drinking water – only 30 percent supported this – though 51 percent were in favor of swimming in recycled water and 51 percent agreed that it was drinkable. However, eight out of 10 Americans favor using recycled water for other uses, including power generation, landscaping, industrial processing and manufacturing, toilet-flushing, car washing and agricultural irrigation.
While Americans generally feel water is the single most important service they receive, beating out electricity and heat, 31 percent don’t know where their water comes from, compared with about one in 10 in China and Singapore.
Advanced water treatment technologies such as ozone, UV and some membrane processes can convert various wastewater source to drinking water quality. Education of the public on the efficacy of these technology for producing safe water from even sewage is necessary. As noted on earlier posts some water recycling plants are providing this education.