Determinants of Intention to Adopt Recycled Water: Evidence from Four High-Water-Stress Provinces in China

Promoting the use of recycled water is essential for environmental sustainability. A key part of promoting the use of recycled water is effectively increasing the public's intention to adopt it. This research attempts to explore the factors that influence the public's intention to adopt recycled water. It therefore introduces the baseline water stress indicator and extends the survey area to areas of high water stress. Based on the Diffusion of Innovation Theory (DOI), a new research model is developed from the perspective of "information disclosure (knowledge)-psychological factors (persuasion)-adoption intention (decision)", and the moderating role of policy instruments is considered. Structural equation modeling and hierarchical regression analysis are used to empirically analyze 724 valid questionnaires. The results indicate that psychological factors (trust, awareness of water environment protection, herd mentality) have multiple parallel mediating effects between recycled water information disclosure and adoption intention, and herd mentality is the key factor influencing the public's intention to adopt recycled water. Command-and-control policy instruments inhibit adoption intention, while economic incentives and publicity-and-guidance policy instruments promote adoption intention. These findings can help policymakers seek and adopt effective policy measures and provide a reference for popularizing and promoting recycled water in areas with high water stress.