Constructed wetlands as nature-based solutions to increase farmers’ adaptive capacity to climate change: Exploring farmers’ perspectives and perceptions in Alicante, Spain

Reclaimed water stands out as a highly accessible water source, consistently generated and largely insulated from weather variations, thereby strengthening its ability to address issues of water scarcity, shortages, and increasing stress from water-related disputes and conflicts. Over the past few decades, constructed wetlands (CWs) have gained recognition as an eco-friendly solution and an economical approach to enhance the quality standards of reclaimed water. CWs serve as nature-based solutions (NbS) that can effectively address the challenges of water scarcity and the threats posed by water pollution. Typically, CWs emulate natural wetland functions, such as water storage and management and social and ecosystem benefits to the built environment. Research on the perceptions and usage of reclaimed water from constructed wetlands by farmers is quite limited, especially concerning the associated environmental and agricultural risks. This research explores how farmers perceive the use of reclaimed water and the significance of constructed wetlands in tackling water shortages and contamination, particularly in the context of adapting to climate change. A survey regarding perceptions of climate change, the utilization of reclaimed water, and the function of constructed wetlands was completed by 177 farmers from 2 irrigation communities located in southern Spain’s Alicante region. Respondents are located near El Hondo coastal wetland and the Santa Pola saltmarshes, both natural-constructed systems. Results reported farmers’ perception of reclaimed water as a non-riskier water source while confirming water harvesting options (e.g., CWs) as favorite mechanisms to increase water supply and reduce water pollution. Policymakers and water managers can use farmers’ experiences to discuss the main barriers and benefits of using reclaimed water and promoting CWs to address water scarcity and water pollution risks.