Veolia sent out this press release from which many readers may be surprised to learn they want to drink treated waste water that includes human waste, food scraps, oils, soaps and chemicals including water from sinks, showers, bathtubs, toilets, washing machines and dishwashers.
Barometer of Ecological Transformation
WEST NYACK, NY (June 8, 2024) — As recently as 10 years ago, most if not all Americans would have balked at the idea of drinking recycled wastewater. But Veolia’s new survey of American attitudes toward climate change, called the Barometer of Ecological Transformation, indicates the impacts of climate change have led to a striking shift in the measures that Americans are now willing to take to preserve natural resources. Worsening storms, drought, flooding and other tangible signs of a changing climate are also making Americans feel increasingly anxious and vulnerable, the survey shows.
The highlights from the Barometer survey, which polled 2,000 Americans, include:
- 61% of Americans expressed willingness to drink recycled wastewater in order to adapt to severe water shortages
- 82% expressed willingness to pay more out of their own pocket to help cover costs for eliminating micropollutants in drinking water supplies
- 74% expressed willingness to eat food from agriculture that uses recycled wastewater for fertilizer
Veolia provides water services to more than 550,000 customers in New York and approximately 22,000 customers in Rhode Island, as part of its role as America’s leading water business, providing water and wastewater services to more than 20 million people across the United States. The Barometer survey results demonstrate the value of Veolia’s aggressive efforts to protect America’s environmental resources, showing that it is not too late for bold action to turn the tide.
Senior leaders in Veolia North America’s Municipal Water division are available to discuss the Barometer survey’s findings and explain how Veolia is helping address the effects of climate change on water and wastewater services. Here is a link to the press release: https://www.veolianorthamerica.com/media/press-releases/global-climate-survey-americans
You can also visit our VNA website page devoted to the results here.