Grey Water Reuse Around Homes and Soil Quality in Western Sydney Region

Dear Sir/Madam,

    I am Pinto Uthpala, an honours student at University Of Western Sydney Hawkesbury. As a part of my honours project, I am conducting a study titled �Grey water reuse around homes and soil quality in Western Sydney Region� The project commenced in the first week of August and expected to complete by April 2008.

    I�m seeking help from people in Western Sydney to participate in this survey to understand people�s views and experiences about the use of grey water for irrigation around homes. Grey water includes waste water from kitchen, laundry and bathroom.

    The survey will take about 10-15 minutes of your time and contains some simple questions relating to different aspects of water recycling and grey water reuse around homes.

    Please note that none of your personal details will be collected unless you agree to do so. If you are 18 years of age or above you may participate in this survey. If you decide not to take part in this survey at any stage, you are free to do so.

    If you are already using grey water and are concerned about the health of your garden soil or long-term impact of grey water use on the soil, we are happy to test soil from your garden area free of charge as part of this study. Please let me know using the contact details provided at the end of the survey. We will then make arrangement with you for collecting a soil sample (about 500g of soil) from you home site for the laboratory analysis.

    Also, if you would like to receive a copy of the survey outcomes, please contact me using the contact details provided at the end of the survey.

    Your answers are important to the accuracy and success of this project, whether or not you use grey water for irrigation. Thank you for your help in my honours research project through participating in this survey.

Any queries regarding the study may be forwarded to,


Uthpala Pinto (Student)
Bachelor of Applied Science (Honours)
School of Natural Sciences
University Of Western Sydney
Hawkesbury Campus
Tel: 040 393 4647 		Assoc. Prof. Basant Maheshwari (Supervisor)
School Of Natural Sciences
University Of Western Sydney
Hawkesbury Campus
Tel: 02 4570 1235


NOTE: This study has been approved by the University of Western Sydney Human Research Ethics Panel. The Approval Number is HERP 07/128. If you have any complaints or reservations about the ethical conduct of this research, you may contact the Ethics Panel through the Research Ethics Officers (Tel.02 4736 0883 or 4736 0884). Any issues you raise will be treated in confidence and investigated fully, and you will be informed of the outcome.


Grey water reuse around homes and soil quality in Western Sydney Region


Please note that the online version of the survey works with Microsoft Internet Explorer ONLY. Alternative web browsers such as Mozilla Firefox will generate error messages when you click the submit button.



1. What is the name of the suburb you currently live in?


2. Are you?
Male
Female


3. Which of the following best describes your age?
18-25
25-40
40-60
Over 60


4. Type of dwelling you are living in,
Single house
Town house (A house that is one of a row of identical houses situated side by side sharing common walls)
Semi-detached (Two buildings joined by a common wall)
Flat/unit/apartment
Other - please specify:    


5.How many people usually live in your home?
1
2
3
4
More than 4


6. Water is important to you in the context of water, (you can select more than one option)
Quality
Quantity
Price
Availability without restrictions
     Other - please specify:    


7. Which one of the following options best describes your views on water saving practices? (you can select more than one option)
Use less
Harvest rain water
Recycle grey water
Increase the price of water
    Other - please specify:    


8. How will the recycling of grey water in Western Sydney benefits the region? (you can select more than one option)
Reduced consumption of portable water
Helping in the sustainability of water supplies
Less environmental impacts overall
Don�t know
    Other - please specify:    


9. Do you think there is a water crisis in Western Sydney?
Yes
No
Don�t know


10. Does the current water scarcity in Western Sydney concern you?
I am concerned and it is affecting me
I am concerned but it is not affecting me
Doesn�t worry me
Don�t know


11. What is your view about reuse of grey water for irrigation of home gardens?
It can be used without any problem
Problems may arise over time with its use
Don�t know


12. How do you rank the followings in relation to grey water reuse for irrigation around homes? (1=Not Important, 5=Very Important)
  Not Important Very Important
  1 2 3 4 5
Health risks to soil, plant and people in the area of use
Cost associated with reuse (plumbing and water treatment technology)
It will help to reduce the impacts of climate change


13. Have you ever used grey water for irrigation at your home?
Yes (continue to Q.14)
No (go to Q.19)


14. How long have you been using grey water for irrigation at your home?
Less than 1 year
Less than 3 years
More than 3 years


15. How often have you used grey water during the last 12 months?
Quite regularly (at least once a week)
Sometimes (once a fortnight)
When I can (probably once a month)
Irregularly


16. What motivates you to reuse grey water ? (you can select more than one option)
Cope with the current water crisis
Save on my water bill
Help the environment
Just to tryout
Don�t know
     Other - please specify:    


17. What is the source of grey water you have used? (you can select more than one option)
Kitchen
Laundry- wash cycle
Laundry- rinse cycle
Laundry- both rinse and wash cycles
Bathroom


18. How did you use grey water? ( i.e. transferring method of grey water from source to garden)
Using a bucket
Using an extension pipeline
Using a domestic grey water recycling unit
     Other - please specify:    


19. If the current water crisis continues, do you think people should re-use more grey water in the future?
Yes
No
Don't know


20. Please use the following space if you wish to make any other comments in regards to water recycling, grey water reuse and water conservation.

NO MORE QUESTIONS- THANK YOU FOR YOUR COOPERATION!



If you are already using grey water and concerned about the impact of grey water on your garden soil, we may be able to test the soil of your grey water reuse site FREE of charge for you.

Mobile: 040 393 4647
E-mail: [email protected]

Also if you would like to receive an electronic or a printed copy of the project outcomes, please inform me.


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