The Effect of Emotions on the Acceptance of Reclaimed Wastewater for Irrigation: A Key to Manage the Hydric Balance in an Arid Region of Spain?
2024
Gil English, Samuel | Wolfe, Sarah Elizabeth
The Marina Baja water system in Alicante has been exemplified as achieving hydric balance through reclaimed wastewater exchange agreements between urban and agricultural uses, limiting external water resource contributions. This study examines the impact of emotions on farmers’ acceptance of reclaimed wastewater amidst water scarcity, increased water demand due to urban population growth, and emerging concerns of about water quality and arrangements among stakeholder groups. Applying Q methodology and Appraisal Theory, the research reveals how both positive and negative valence emotions influence farmers’ decision-making and stakeholder interactions, provoking both acceptance and rejection of reclaimed wastewater. The study challenges the prevailing academic and institutional narrative of balance achieved through reclaimed wastewater by analyzing the perceptions of farmers and water managers, in addition to highlighting the risk related to the acceptance of reclaimed wastewater of low quality. The findings emphasise the importance of understanding emotional dynamics in water management and the necessity for trust to ensure sustainable water resource practices.
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