The Sustainable Development Goals 6: A Pilot Study on The Readiness of Bukit Perdana Residents Utilizing Recycled Wastewater as Potable and Non-Potable Water

Abstract

Sustainable water resources management and social rights for equitable safe water and sanitation are the focal point for long-term economic growth and productivity, health and education. By 2030, the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6 that underlines the imperativeness of Clean Water and Sanitation aims at improving water quality by curtailing the rate and threat of pollution. This idea also aims at convincing the public on recycling water and safe water reuse. Indeed, global warming, water shortages, exponential growth of world’s population and water pollution have caused significant impact on availability of the water resource throughout the globe. The trend of recycling wastewater has become one of the alternatives to reduce the pressure on the consumption of water resources. The key implementation for recycled wastewater derives from the intensive work in ensuring recycled wastewater is accepted by the public. Ergo, the challenge of the implementation is to remove the stereotype perception on the quality of recycled wastewater. The objectives of this study are to determine the acceptance of adults and senior adults to utilize recycled wastewater in the form of potable and non-potable water and to determine the correlation between the respondents’ willingness in correspond to their age and education background. The survey was participated by the adults and senior adults’ residents of Taman Bukit Perdana, Johor Darul Tazim and the data collected was analyzed using IBM SPSS version 27. Observations have found 77% of the respondents are willing to utilize the recycled wastewater. Adults range age between 18 – 59 years old are more likely to support the utilization of recycled wastewater for both potable and non-potable water while senior adults’ of 60+ years old are obtuse and quite uninclined to accept the usage of reuse water. Meanwhile, respondents who possess basic or intermediate knowledge on environmental concerns, and those with tertiary education have the propensity to accept in utilizing recycled water in comparison with respondents who have little insight on environment issues and/or those of lower educational background. Addressing these challenges, it requires tremendous efforts to raise the awareness through education and integration for public participation and to work out a sustainable water resources management.