Freshwater resources are under increasing anthropogenic pressure,
causing problems of scarcity and water quality, conflicts of use, and risks
to natural environments. In this scenario, a paradigm shift in water use is
necessary to mitigate the consequences of climate change. To this end,
it is not only necessary to implement technological developments that
facilitate the reuse of the water, but also for societies to view the use of
reclaimed water favorably. The research presented at this symposium is
related to the perception and acceptance of the risk of reclaimed water in
three countries: Spain, France, and Portugal. To achieve this objective, a
qualitative study is first carried out to understand, from the perspective of risk perception, the discourse of experts in this field. Subsequently, a
second quantitative study is carried out with the general population of
the respective countries to find out in which sectors it is most accepted,
as well as the main strengths and weaknesses of using this water.