Cranfield Water Science Institute, Cranfield University, Bedfordshire, MK43 0AL, UK.
Thames Water Utilities Ltd, Innovation, Reading STW, Island Road, Reading, RG2 0RP, UK.
Water Res. 2018 Nov 15;145:125-135. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2018.08.006. Epub 2018 Aug 4.
Water reuse is of increasing relevance for water-stressed regions but is often considered a contentious option. Research has shown that providing the public with information about reuse options can impact positively on its acceptability, although such impacts can be confined to specific groups. In this context, there is growing interest in understanding the impact of different forms and mechanisms of communication with the public around reuse. This contribution has investigated the use of video animations to communicate the safety of non-potable recycled water schemes. The aim of this study was to evaluate how different ways of framing messages about the safety of recycled water might impact on public attitudes. Participants were recruited in London (n = 689), UK, and randomly allocated to test and control groups, with the former being exposed to one of four video animations that used different frames to convey messages about recycled water safety. Surveys collected pre- and post-video message responses for dependent variables including the general acceptance of diverse non-potable recycled water uses, risk perceptions and trust. The findings complement existing knowledge on the impacts of different types of messaging on public attitudes to reuse schemes with important evidence for the positive impact of water safety communications framed in terms of compliance with water quality requirements. Contrarily, a positive attitudinal impact was not evident for safety message framed in terms of the selection of water treatment technology to remove contaminants nor in terms of non-potable water risks relative to other every-day risks. The results are of value to water resource planners looking to develop communication resources, as part of more comprehensive public engagement strategies, for improving perceptions of water reuse. Importantly, the findings help isolate the effects of specific message frames, and inform the debate on whether an increased understanding of risk positively or negatively influences willingness to support water reuse schemes.
水资源再利用对于水资源短缺地区具有越来越重要的意义，但通常被认为是一个有争议的选择。研究表明，向公众提供有关再利用选择的信息可以对其可接受性产生积极影响，尽管这种影响可能仅限于特定群体。在这种情况下，人们越来越关注理解围绕再利用与公众进行不同形式和机制的沟通的影响。本研究探讨了使用视频动画来传达非饮用水再生水计划的安全性。本研究的目的是评估关于再生水安全性的信息传递方式的不同框架如何影响公众态度。参与者在英国伦敦招募（n=689），并随机分配到测试组和对照组，前者暴露于四个视频动画中的一个，这些动画使用不同的框架来传达有关再生水安全性的信息。调查收集了视频信息前后的反应，包括对各种非饮用水再生水用途的普遍接受度、风险认知和信任度等因变量。这些发现补充了关于不同类型的信息传递对公众对再利用方案的态度的影响的现有知识，为以符合水质要求为框架的水安全沟通对再利用方案的积极影响提供了重要证据。相反，以选择水去除污染物的处理技术为框架的安全信息，以及以非饮用水风险相对于其他日常风险为框架的安全信息，对态度没有明显的积极影响。对于希望开发沟通资源的水资源规划者来说，这些结果具有价值，这些资源是更全面的公众参与战略的一部分，旨在改善对水资源再利用的看法。重要的是，这些发现有助于隔离特定信息框架的影响，并为关于对风险的理解是否积极或消极地影响支持水资源再利用方案的意愿的争论提供信息。
