ABSTRACT Potable water reuse is a critical component of effective water conservation strategies in arid regions, making it increasingly important to understand the factors influencing residents' willingness to adopt recycled potable water. This study examines the associations between residents' concerns about local water‐related issues—namely population growth, drought conditions, water bills, and water quality—and their willingness to engage in direct and indirect potable water reuse initiatives in New Mexico. Using Bayesian Mindsponge Framework analytics on a dataset of 1831 water consumers in Albuquerque, the state's most populous city, the study identified positive associations between concerns about drought and population growth and the willingness to use both direct and indirect recycled potable water. In contrast, concerns about water quality and water bills were negatively associated with willingness, suggesting barriers linked to limited knowledge of water recycling processes, perceived health risks, and potential moral licensing effects. These findings provide actionable insights for policymakers seeking to develop sustainable water management strategies tailored to the needs of arid regions.
Li et al. (Tue,) studied this question.