Anticipating population growth and future droughts, many water systems with supply constraints have implemented potable reuse or are studying its potential. The technology and operations are well understood, and once conservation and water efficiency efforts are maximized, water reuse may be the most feasible option for many communities.

As full-scale potable reuse has become a reality over the past 20 years, there have been campaigns to engage the public both for and against it. And while potable reuse is now generally accepted and even considered the most sustainable option in some cases, it just can't catch a break with some media. It's common to find emotion-inducing language in headlines, such as the term toilet-to-tap—e.g., “Ready or not, ‘toilet to tap’ recycled wastewater is coming to a spigot near you” (The Kansas City Star, May 2021).

It's great when news outlets explore an important topic like this, but the example from The Kansas City Star begins with fictional dystopian water futures and ends by comparing drinking recycled water to “wearing Hitler's sweater”—not helpful images to build the case for potable reuse. Toilet-to-tap is catchy—poetic even—but water professionals should cringe when they see it because it's not correct and it reinforces wrong ideas about potable reuse. Unfortunately, it's easy to mentally connect a toilet to a tap, and in that moment of shock and disgust, a false and completely negative understanding of potable reuse is entrenched.

The truth is that the multiple treatment barriers, both natural and engineered, that wastewater goes through on its path to drinking water are much more complex than the simple notion of toilet to tap. But while research continues to make progress in the field, reporters using the term toilet-to-tap in a headline stand to poison the well for public acceptance of a safe and helpful water supply strategy.

When you see “toilet to tap” in a headline, know that it is a highly slanted but simple trick to hook readers. However, it also plants doubt and confusion around the safety of potable reuse when there really is no cause. Where these stories appear, water professionals should follow up with the sources to relay the potential value of potable reuse and discuss the unintentional reuse that naturally occurs for many communities. Negative attacks can erode support, but consistent, sustained, and comprehensive outreach is the key, so engage with your community and keep the discussion focused on what really matters.

This month's Journal AWWA features articles on source water protection, disinfection, and apprenticeships in the water industry. If you are interested in submitting an article, contact me at journaleditor@awwa.org.

考虑到人口增长和未来的干旱，许多供应受限的供水系统已经实施了饮用水再利用或正在研究其潜力。技术和操作很容易理解，一旦最大限度地保护和提高用水效率，水回用可能是许多社区最可行的选择。

过去 20 年来，随着全面的饮用水再利用已成为现实，人们发起了支持和反对它的运动。虽然饮用水再利用现在已被普遍接受，甚至在某些情况下被认为是最可持续的选择，但它只是无法与某些媒体休息一下。这是常见的找到标题，如长期的情感诱导语言厕所到水龙头-例如，“准备好，‘厕所水龙头’污水再生利用是来你附近的水龙头”（堪萨斯城星，五月2021）。

当新闻媒体探索这样一个重要话题时很好，但堪萨斯城之星的例子开始于虚构的反乌托邦水期货，结束于将饮用再生水与“穿着希特勒的毛衣”进行比较——这对建立饮用水再利用的案例没有帮助. 从厕所到水龙头很吸引人——甚至是诗意的——但水专业人士在看到它时应该畏缩，因为它不正确，它强化了关于饮用水再利用的错误观念。不幸的是，很容易在心理上将马桶与水龙头联系起来，在震惊和厌恶的那一刻，对饮用水再利用的错误和完全负面的理解根深蒂固。

事实是，废水在通往饮用水的过程中所经历的多重处理障碍，无论是天然的还是人工设计的，都比马桶水龙头的简单概念复杂得多。但是，尽管该领域的研究不断取得进展，但记者在标题中使用“从厕所到水龙头”这个词的立场是为了让公众接受安全和有益的供水策略而毒害水井。

当你在标题中看到“toilet to tap”时，要知道这是一个非常倾斜但简单的技巧来吸引读者。然而，当确实没有原因时，它也会对饮用水再利用的安全性产生怀疑和混淆。在这些故事出现的地方，水务专业人士应跟进来源，以传达饮用水再利用的潜在价值，并讨论许多社区自然发生的无意再利用。负面攻击可能会削弱支持，但一致、持续和全面的外展是关键，因此请与您的社区互动，并将讨论重点放在真正重要的事情上。

本月的AWWA 期刊刊登了有关水行业中源水保护、消毒和学徒制的文章。如果您有兴趣提交文章，请通过 journaleditor@awwa.org 与我联系。