School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Faculty of Arts and Education, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia.
Centre for Rural and Remote Health, James Cook University, Mount Isa, Australia.
PLoS One. 2023 Mar 17;18(3):e0283245. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0283245. eCollection 2023.
This study examines the association between the perception of water scarcity and support for alternative water sources in general, and specifically desalination and recycled water. It also examines the mediating role that perception of climate change has on the aforementioned association. A 46-item survey (n = 588) was conducted in the Geelong region of Australia. Logistic regression was used to determine the independent association between perceived water scarcity and socio-demographic factors, with support for alternative water sources, desalination and recycled water. 82% of respondents supported undefined 'alternative water sources'. However, support for specific alternatives was lower (desalination: 65%; recycled water: 40.3%). Perception of water scarcity was significantly associated with increased odds of support for alternative water sources (OR 1.94, 95% CI: 1.25-3.00) and support for recycled water (OR 2.32, 95% CI: 1.68-3.31). There was no significant relationship between perception of water scarcity and support for desalination (OR 0.959 95% CI: 0.677-1.358). Climate change was found to mediate perceived water scarcity and support for alternative sources (OR 1.360, 95% CI: 0.841-2.198). The mediation of the relationship between perceived water scarcity and support for recycled water by climate change was not strong. These results facilitate enhanced community engagement strategies.
本研究考察了对水短缺的感知与对替代水源（一般意义上的替代水源，以及具体的海水淡化和再生水）的支持之间的关联。本研究还考察了气候变化感知在上述关联中所起的中介作用。在澳大利亚的吉隆地区进行了一项包含 46 个项目的调查（n=588）。使用逻辑回归来确定感知到的水短缺与社会人口因素之间的独立关联，以及对替代水源、海水淡化和再生水的支持。82%的受访者支持未定义的“替代水源”。然而，对具体替代方案的支持较低（海水淡化：65%；再生水：40.3%）。对水短缺的感知与对替代水源的支持呈显著正相关（比值比 1.94，95%置信区间：1.25-3.00）和对再生水的支持（比值比 2.32，95%置信区间：1.68-3.31）。感知到的水短缺与对海水淡化的支持之间没有显著关系（比值比 0.959，95%置信区间：0.677-1.358）。气候变化被发现可以调节感知到的水短缺和对替代水源的支持（比值比 1.360，95%置信区间：0.841-2.198）。气候变化对感知到的水短缺和对再生水的支持之间关系的调节作用并不强。这些结果为加强社区参与策略提供了便利。
