ANNOUNCEMENTS
With worsening water scarcity problems and a rapidly increasing population, the search for sustainable water management solutions has led to a reassessment of traditional approaches. This study assesses the economic and social viability of DEWATS, presenting it as a viable solution for improving water access in rural India. It caters to two target populations; farmers and households—based on commercial uses like irrigation for farmers and personal uses like toilet flushing, gardening, and vehicle washing for the households. For farmers, the analysis is conducted using the Contingent Valuation Method, aimed at determining their willingness to pay for treated wastewater from DEWATS based on socioeconomic variables, diesel costs, awareness, water rent, and other factors. The perceptions of households are captured using the Contingent Ranking exercise, using water cost, wastewater quality, water source, water use, and water wastage as the attributes. It is aimed at assessing the cognitive thinking of the respondents in preferring treated wastewater from DEWATS as their most preferred option. The findings suggest that DEWATS are an economically viable alternative, as they help relieve the financial burden of high diesel costs or water rents. Diesel costs and water rents show a positively significant relationship with the willingness to pay for using treated wastewater for irrigation at 5% and 10% significance levels, respectively. DEWATS are also a socially acceptable option, as the 'treated wastewater' variable positively impacted the likelihood of the outcome variable (rank=1) at a 1% significance level. Overall, the study suggests launching knowledge camps to enhance awareness regarding DEWATS and enforcing strict measures to monitor water wastage by compulsory installation of water meters across India. The study provides valuable insights for improving water access in rural areas and can be replicated as a model across India as well as across the world.
Key Words: DEWATS, treated wastewater, reclaimed water, sewage treatment, decentralised treatment systems.
