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Mapping potable reuse survey data using spatial statistics to inform tailored education and outreach
Author(s) -
Cruz Maurice P.,
Scruggs Caroline E.,
Distler Lauren N.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
awwa water science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2577-8161
DOI - 10.1002/aws2.1197
Subject(s) - geospatial analysis , outreach , reuse , geographic information system , potable water , survey data collection , distrust , environmental resource management , data science , geography , environmental planning , computer science , environmental science , cartography , environmental engineering , statistics , engineering , mathematics , political science , law , waste management
This research describes geospatial analyses of water‐related knowledge and opinion data on potable water reuse collected through a large‐scale public survey of water utility customers in Albuquerque, New Mexico. We identify key geographic areas, or statistically significant “hotspots,” of public distrust in the local water utility provider, public willingness (or lack thereof) to accept potable water reuse, and lack of knowledge or misconceptions about water‐related issues and climate change. By combining public survey data, geographic information system software, and spatial statistics for hotspot analyses, we introduce a tailored outreach method to identify geographic locations for targeted outreach and education on water‐related issues. This new approach to analyzing survey data is a promising dimension of water management, and the method could be important for tackling other resource management issues in additional cities or regions as well.