Water reuse in France - Social perception of an unknown practice

Benjamin Noury (1, 2, 3) , Patrice Garin (3) , Marielle Montginoul (4) , Myriam Campardon

1 IMSIC - Institut mediterranéen des sciences de l'information et de la communication
2 SCP - Société du Canal de Provence et d'Aménagement de la Région Provençale
3 UMR G-EAU - Gestion de l'Eau, Acteurs, Usages
4 UMR G-EAU - Gestion de l'Eau, Acteurs, Usages

In France, wastewater reuse (WWR) is an emerging practice. In light of climate change, French authorities multiply pilot experiments but little data have been collected on public perception of this practice. This study questions French opinions towards WWR and tests variables that influence it. The most discriminating factors are, in our study, perception, disgust, targeted use and information. The different types of information tested produced contrasting reactions. Our work also shows a strong coherence between attitudes and behavioral intentions. However, the threat of a 20% drop in local customers would not be acceptable in an agricultural and wine-growing area such as Pic Saint Loup.

Mots clés: perception; wastewater reuse; information; communication

Domaines: Environnement et Société

Benjamin Noury, Patrice Garin, Marielle Montginoul, Myriam Campardon. Water reuse in France - Social perception of an unknown practice. 12th IWA International Conference on Water Reclamation and Reuse, Jun 2019, Berlin, Germany. ⟨hal-02875360⟩