Public Perceptions and Attitudes Toward Stormwater Recycling for Irrigation

Abstract

As part of conservation measures dealing with water shortages, the City of Calgary is developing a strategy to irrigate parks using stormwater from retention ponds. Since there are no guidelines within Alberta governing this practice, a comprehensive assessment is being conducted of stormwater recycling as an adaptation strategy to climate change. A portion of this assessment involves examining potential health risks associated with stormwater recycling, as well as general public attitudes toward this strategy. To this end, a survey was administered to residents living around Inverness Park in southeast Calgary. Of 500 questionnaires mailed out, 138 respondents indicated that there was little resistance to adopting stormwater recycling, but that agencies should monitor stormwater quality and make the public aware of health risks. Users were only slightly aware of health risks posed by degraded water quality, but were not willing to accept much risk with regard to their health.