Summary_WaterReuse_Jan2023

Healthy Communities Conversation on Storm and wastewater reuse: Summary

This is a summary of the conversation facilitated by the Centre for Healthy Communities on January 31, 2023. The Healthy Communities Conversation focused on storm and wastewater reuse. Our conversation was around the following question: what dimensions should we explore with the public to socialize the need for water reuse knowing that our fresh drinking water supply is a limited resource?

Key Highlights:

Not Only an Individual Responsibility: Water scarcity is a collective, social responsibility. Yet, the conversation is typically about what a person or a household can do to save and reuse water. Industrial use of water is quite often left out of the discussion despite the large consumption of water by industry.
Provincial Regulations: In sharp contrast to industries in British Columbia, within Alberta this sector has faced regulatory barriers that interfere with adoption of water recycling and reuse within operations.
Call for Municipalities to Step Up: There needs to be more clarity on municipal programs on residential water collection and guidelines for new developments.
Residential Rainwater Harvesting: Financial incentives are recommended to support homeowners in offsetting the purchase costs of residential rainwater collection systems. It is critical to provide educational resources to increase awareness on the 1) household financial and health benefits of this practice, 2) provincial and municipal regulations around collection and use of rainwater, and 3) safe installation and maintenance of the equipment.
Green Infrastructure and Native Solutions: Rain barrels, intermediate bulk container (IBC), planter boxes, and native vegetation were pointed out as sustainable storm-management ways to reduce the volume of runoff.
North and South Alberta Divide: Attitudes and perceptions about water reuse are more progressive and more aligned with actions on climate crisis in Calgary and southern communities because of pressures around water scarcity.
Generational Differences: While older and younger folks are concerned about water scarcity and have taken some steps to address this issue, the group in the middle may not value water as much. Priority should be given to this group to increase their awareness of the water crisis and the strategies they can adopt in their day-to-day lives to save and reuse water.
Levels of Risk with Water Reuse: Reusing water for construction or watering landscaping, natural green spaces, and recreational facilities (e.g., sport fields) were perceived as less risky for health compared to agriculture irrigation and drinking water.
From Ick to Purified Water: Branding reused, treated water as a purified liquid may be one of the ways to get past the ick factor for drinking. Simple changes in words can create powerful, impactful messages. Increasing trust in the wastewater treatment plants may further support buy-in from the public for personal and domestic use.
Beyond Monetary Value of Water: Water is usually valued only when the utility bill comes. In a way, an increase in water service charges may change people’s perceptions about the value of and need for water reuse. We need to value water because it is essential for life, supporting our own health and wellbeing. There is also a need to start talking about the human right to water. That way, water utility bills will be seen less like a nuisance and more like a necessity to meet basic needs.
Getting Social for a Cultural Change: Scientific data on water scarcity and safety, and the quality of reused water should be communicated through social media channels to get people to start talking about water reuse.
Pushing the Agenda and Getting Inspired by Others: Canada is behind on the international dialogue of water reuse; yet, some municipalities, like Winnipeg and Toronto, have set examples of smart, eco-friendly ways for water reuse promotion. Alberta municipalities should follow the lead of these innovator municipalities.