Assessment of public knowledge, perception and willingness towards treated hospital wastewater reuse in peri-urban agriculture in Ibadan, Nigeria

The study aimed to assess the acceptance of reusing treated Hospital Wastewater (HW) for agricultural irrigation in the peri-urban area of Ibadan, Nigeria, and the willingness of residents to consume crops grown using this water source. A questionnaire was administered to 404 respondents to gather data on their knowledge of wastewater reuse, perceptions regarding reclaimed HW, and barriers affecting their acceptance of reclaimed HW for urban food production. Findings revealed that a significant portion of respondents (56.6%) had limited knowledge about wastewater reuse, while approximately half (52%) viewed reclaimed HW positively. However, a majority (66.1%) expressed reluctance towards using reclaimed HW for crop irrigation or consuming crops grown with it. Reasons cited for this unwillingness included concerns about health risks, distrust in wastewater treatment processes, psychological factors, and religious beliefs. The study underscores that urban residents in Ibadan may not readily accept the use of reclaimed HW in urban agriculture.