FARMERS' EXPERIENCE, CONCERNS AND PERSPECTIVES IN USING RECLAIMED WATER FOR IRRIGATION IN A SEMI-ARID REGION OF CRETE, GREECE

Public acceptance is recognized as an important ingredient for success in any recycling project. In case of reuse of treated waste-water for crop irrigation, farmers are the key stakeholders, being in a position to accept or reject reclaimed water. During this study, a survey was conducted to determine the perceptions and experience of farmers in a semi-arid region of Crete, Greece, where a wastewater reuse scheme has already been in operation for about a decade in irrigating olive orchards. Results show that a high proportion ( 77.4%) of the respondents view the reclaimed water positively for olive tree irrigation. On the other hand, a very low proportion was found for all the other irrigation options, with 7.9% for vegetables, 9.1% for vines and 25.8% for ornamental plants. Irrigation with reclaimed water had a positive impact on olive trees and soil according to about 56 and 40% of respondents respectively. Approximately 46% of farmers expressed willingness to pay for reclaimed water, while 94% of respondents suggested a price of up to (sic)0.15m(-3). A clear correlation was found between levels of trust in the local authority responsible for the scheme and the farmers' attitude towards reclaimed water. Copyright (C) 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.