Development of an Awareness Transformation Tool to Reconceptualize Rainwater as a Water Resource

The Extraordinary Experience of "Drinking Rain”

Abstract

At the UN Summit held in September 2015, the adopted Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) included clean water and sanitation. However, public awareness of the importance of rainwater as a water resource is poor in Japan. To ameliorate this situation, "Amamizu Drink," an awareness transformation tool, was used to help people engage in the extraordinary experience of "drinking rainwater." A survey was conducted to investigate the tool’s impact on raising people's awareness of rainwater. The survey results revealed that approximately 70% of the subjects who drank the "Amamizu Drink" showed a tendency to change their attitudes, especially young people in their 20s or younger. The results of this study could be a basis for clarifying the factors necessary to further raise awareness of the importance of rainwater and developing effective environmental education materials for a wider range of age groups.