Social perception and challenges of light greywater reuse at the household level in developing countries: a case study of Bucaramanga, Colombia

Burgos-Arias, J.; Rey-Romero, D. C.; Oviedo-Ocana, E. R. 2025. Social perception and challenges of light greywater reuse at the household level in developing countries: a case study of Bucaramanga, Colombia. Water Policy, 27(2):141–160. [doi:https://doi.org/10.2166/wp.2025.014]

Light greywater (LGW) has significant potential for reuse at the household level compared to other domestic wastewater effluents. However, social acceptance remains a major barrier to its implementation. This study provides a novel analysis of domestic water consumption habits and public perceptions of LGW reuse within an urban residential area in Latin America. Data were collected through a household survey (n = 132) and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Seventy-four per cent of respondents were willing to adopt this water reclamation scheme. Education level significantly influenced perceptions of reuse, while gender and age had no significant effect. Personal attitudes, self-perceived capacity, and water consumption habits, particularly the frequency of handwashing, tooth brushing, and toilet flushing, were key drivers of the LGW generation and shaped public perceptions. Higher per capita water consumption associated with these activities underscores the feasibility of LGW reuse, particularly for most preferred applications like toilet flushing (81%) and floor cleaning (67%), which involve minimal human contact. Most respondents expressed willingness to invest in LGW reuse systems (73%), perform operational tasks (77%), and conduct maintenance activities (64%). The study identified five challenges hindering LGW reuse at the household level and proposed strategies to address them in the Colombian context.