Northwestern Indiana Regional Water Quality Survey Results

Transcription

1 Northwestern Indiana Regional Water Quality Survey Results by ETC Institute November 13, 2007

2 Agenda ) ) ) Methodology Findings 5 Current Perceptions of Water Quality Issues 5 Level of Understanding About Water Quality Issues 5 Behaviors that Affect Water Quality in the Region 5 Willingness of Residents to Take Action to Protect Water Resources 5 Support for Regional Initiatives 5 How to Inform the Community About Water Quality Issues Summary and Questions

3 Methodology ) ) ) ) ) ) PURPOSE: The purpose of the survey was to provide a benchmark to gauge the effectiveness of regional and local public outreach campaigns on water quality issues in Northwestern Indiana. SAMPLE SIZE: Administered to a stratified random sample of 755 residents; goal was to obtain at least 150 completed surveys from: Gary/East Chicago Other areas in Northern Lake County outside Gary/East Chicago in the Lake Michigan Watershed Northern portion of Porter County in the Lake Michigan Watershed Southern portion of Lake and Porter Counties in the Kankakee Watershed WEIGHTING: Regional results weighted based on the relative population of each of the four subareas. METHOD OF ADMINISTRATION: The survey was administered by a combination of mail and phone during August 2007 PRECISION: Overall results for the region have a precision of at least +/-3.7% at the 95% level of confidence; the results for each of the four subareas have a precision of at least 7.2% at the 95% level of confidence GIS MAPPING: The home addresses of responding households were geocoded, which allowed us to show the results of the survey on maps of the region

4 Distribution of Respondents by Watershed by percentage of respondents Northern Lake 26% Gary/East Chicago 28% Northern Porter 25% Southern Lake/Porter 20%

5 Demographics of Respondents

6 Ages of People In Household by percentage of persons in households Ages % Under age 10 16% Ages % Ages % Ages %

7 Race/Ethnicity by percentage of respondents (multiple answers allowed) Asian/Pacific Islander 1% American Indian/Eskimo 2% Black/African American 18% Hispanic/Latino 7% White/Caucasian 72% Not provided 1% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

8 Annual Household Income by percentage of respondents households $60k-$99,999 24% $35k-$59,999 29% $100k to $149,999 10% $150,000 or more 3% Not provided 16% Under $35,000 18%

9 Current Perceptions of Water Quality Issues

10 How Residents View the Fresh Water Supply in Northwestern Indiana by percentage of respondents An unlimited supply, that will be replenished when it rains 21% 67% Don't know A limited, non- 12% renewable source that could disappear

11 Top Three Reasons Residents Value the Water Resources In Their Community by percentage of respondents who selected the item as one of their top three choices Drinking water Support for wildlife Support for aquatic life Support trees and plant life next to water Swimming Fishing Aesthetics Boating Places for walking trails Kayaking/Canoeing Wading 45% 33% 30% 24% 18% 11% 10% 6% 1% 1% 80% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

12 How Residents Think the Quality of Water in Lakes, Rivers, and Streams in Their Community Is Changing by percentage of respondents Getting worse 38% Staying the same 37% Don't know 17% Improving 8% Residents were nearly 5 times more likely to think it is "getting worse" than "improving"

13 How much do you think the way you maintain your home affects the quality of water in lakes and streams in the community where you live? by percentage of respondents Moderate effect 29% Great effect 13% Little effect 33% No effect 17% Don't know 8% Half (50%) of those surveyed thought they have little or no effect

14 Level of agreement with the statement: "The quality of local streams and rivers where I live affects the Great Lakes." by percentage of respondents Strongly agree 35% Agree 37% Don't know 9% Strongly disagree 8% Neither agree or disagree Disagree 9% 2% Residents understand the link between local waterways and the Great Lakes

15 Current Level of Understanding About Water Quality Issues

16 Which ONE of the following BEST describes the location where you live? by percentage of respondents Don't live near a watershed 22% In watershed 6% Near watershed 14% Not sure 58% Only 6 in 100 people really understood the term "watershed"

17 During the past year, which of the following do you think contributed the MOST pollution to lakes, rivers and streams in the community where you live? by percentage of respondents Industrial facility discharges 45% Illegal dumping Sewage overflow Sewer treatment plant discharges Roadway/parking lot runoff into drains and ditches Construction sites and new development Animal waste Agricultural farming/livestock operations 16% 11% 6% 5% 5% 3% 3% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%

18 Where do you think stormwater goes after it enters a storm drain or roadside ditch in your community? by percentage of respondents Lakes/streams with treatment 17% Lakes/streams w/out treatment 30% Treatment plant 27% Don't know 26%

19 Behaviors that Affect Water Quality in the Region

20 Where Residents Typically Wash Their Vehicles During the Summer by percentage of respondents (multiple answers allowed) At carwash 61% At home in driveway 26% Don't wash vehicle 7% At home on grass 6% Other Place 2% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70%

21 Do you have a septic system at your home? by percentage of respondents 9a. If "YES", have you had your septic system checked or serviced during the past five years? Yes 72% No 77% Yes 22% Don't know 1% No 17% Don't know 11%

22 Do you or other members of your household usually change motor oil, transmission fluid, or radiator fluid for vehicles at your home? by percentage of respondents Yes 19% No 81%

23 Where Residents Typically Dispose Of Household Waste Materials, Such As Used Oils/Fluids, Batteries, Pesticides, Paints, and etc. by percentage of respondents (multiple answers allowed) Scheduled community collection site or facility 64% With my regular trash 20% In a container at home 8% On the ground 1% Down a storm drain or roadside ditch Other 1% 6% 1 in 5 residents throw household hazardous waste in the regular trash 0% 20% 40% 60% 80%

24 How does your household typically dispose of your dog's waste? by percentage of respondents who had a dog (multiple answers allowed) Dispose with my regular trash 59% Do not pick up dog waste 17% Bury it in the ground 8% Compost 8% Flush it down the toilet 5% Throw it into a ditch 2% Other 4% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70%

25 What does your household typically do with grass clippings and/or leaves? by percentage of respondents who have a yard (multiple answers allowed) Leave them on the lawn/mulch them 53% Curbside pickup by community 35% Compost them in your yard 10% Sweep into street or into ditch/stream/wetland 1% Other 7% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%

26 Which ONE of the following BEST describes how often your household fertilizes your lawn? by percentage of respondents 1-2 times per year 30% 3-4 times per year 19% 5+ times per year 6% Not provided 1% Not applicable 5% Seldom or never 39%

27 Have you had your soil tested to determine how much and what kind of nutrients your lawn needs? by percentage of respondents who do fertilize their lawn Yes 23% Don't know 3% No 74%

28 Willingness of Residents to Take Action to Protect Water Resources

29 Willingness of Residents to Take Various Actions to Help Reduce Pollution of Streams and Lakes by percentage of respondents (excluding don't knows) Dispose hazardous waste at collection day Having septic tank serviced every 3-5 years Sweeping fertilizer/grass clippings back into lawn Promptly picking up and disposing of pet's waste Report polluters to local authorities Changing car washing practices Using low phosphorus/slow release fertilizer Landscaping yard with native plants Only using enviro. friendly lawn service companies Changing lawn watering practices 90% 88% 86% 79% 76% 76% 73% 72% 70% 67% Having soil tested 55% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Very Willing (5) Willing (4)

30 Willingness to change you car washing practices (using a car wash, washing your car on the grass, or using less soap) * ZIP code boundaries were clipped to County borders and merged as needed based on respondent distribution Regional Water Quality and Stormwater Management Survey for Northwestern Indiana Shading reflects the mean rating for all respondents by ZIP Code* LEGEND = Not Willing at All = Not Willing = Somewhat Willing (Neutral) = Willing = Very Willing Other

31 Willingness to promptly pick up & dispose of your pet s waste * ZIP code boundaries were clipped to County borders and merged as needed based on respondent distribution Regional Water Quality and Stormwater Management Survey for Northwestern Indiana Shading reflects the mean rating for all respondents by ZIP Code* LEGEND = Not Willing at All = Not Willing = Somewhat Willing (Neutral) = Willing = Very Willing Other

32 Willingness to sweep excess fertilizer and grass clippings from paved surfaces to the lawn * ZIP code boundaries were clipped to County borders and merged as needed based on respondent distribution Regional Water Quality and Stormwater Management Survey for Northwestern Indiana Shading reflects the mean rating for all respondents by ZIP Code* LEGEND = Not Willing at All = Not Willing = Somewhat Willing (Neutral) = Willing = Very Willing Other

33 Willingness to have your soil tested * ZIP code boundaries were clipped to County borders and merged as needed based on respondent distribution Regional Water Quality and Stormwater Management Survey for Northwestern Indiana Shading reflects the mean rating for all respondents by ZIP Code* LEGEND = Not Willing at All = Not Willing = Somewhat Willing (Neutral) = Willing = Very Willing Other

34 Willingness to use a low phosphorus or slow release nitrogen fertilizer on your law * ZIP code boundaries were clipped to County borders and merged as needed based on respondent distribution Regional Water Quality and Stormwater Management Survey for Northwestern Indiana Shading reflects the mean rating for all respondents by ZIP Code* LEGEND = Not Willing at All = Not Willing = Somewhat Willing (Neutral) = Willing = Very Willing Other

35 Willingness to dispose of household hazardous waste, such as motor oil or pesticides, at a community collection day * ZIP code boundaries were clipped to County borders and merged as needed based on respondent distribution Regional Water Quality and Stormwater Management Survey for Northwestern Indiana Shading reflects the mean rating for all respondents by ZIP Code* LEGEND = Not Willing at All = Not Willing = Somewhat Willing (Neutral) = Willing = Very Willing Other

36 Willingness to landscape your yard with native plants * ZIP code boundaries were clipped to County borders and merged as needed based on respondent distribution Regional Water Quality and Stormwater Management Survey for Northwestern Indiana Shading reflects the mean rating for all respondents by ZIP Code* LEGEND = Not Willing at All = Not Willing = Somewhat Willing (Neutral) = Willing = Very Willing Other

37 Willingness to change your lawn watering practices * ZIP code boundaries were clipped to County borders and merged as needed based on respondent distribution Regional Water Quality and Stormwater Management Survey for Northwestern Indiana Shading reflects the mean rating for all respondents by ZIP Code* LEGEND = Not Willing at All = Not Willing = Somewhat Willing (Neutral) = Willing = Very Willing Other

38 Willingness to report polluters to local authorities * ZIP code boundaries were clipped to County borders and merged as needed based on respondent distribution Regional Water Quality and Stormwater Management Survey for Northwestern Indiana Shading reflects the mean rating for all respondents by ZIP Code* LEGEND = Not Willing at All = Not Willing = Somewhat Willing (Neutral) = Willing = Very Willing Other

39 Support for Regional Initiatives

40 How supportive would you be of an ordinance that would require developers in Northwestern Indiana to protect streams and stream corridors when land is developed? by percentage of respondents Very supportive 61% Not supportive 2% Somewhat supportive 23% Not sure 14%

41 Level of support for ordinances that would require developers to protect streams and stream corridors when land is developed * ZIP code boundaries were clipped to County borders and merged as needed based on respondent distribution Regional Water Quality and Stormwater Management Survey for Northwestern Indiana Shading reflects the mean rating for all respondents by ZIP Code* LEGEND = Very Supportive = Somewhat Supportive = Not Sure (Neutral) = Not Supportive Other

42 How willing would you be to pay an increase in utility fees to fund stormwater and sewer improvements in the community you live to reduce damage from flooding and to help protect water quality? by percentage of respondents Willing 14% Somewhat willing 33% Very willing 12% Don't know 13% Not willing 13% Not willing at all 15%

43 Willingness to pay increased utility fees to fund stormwater and sewer improvements in your community to reduce damage from flooding and to help protect water quality in the region s lakes and streams * ZIP code boundaries were clipped to County borders and merged as needed based on respondent distribution Regional Water Quality and Stormwater Management Survey for Northwestern Indiana Shading reflects the mean rating for all respondents by ZIP Code* LEGEND = Not Willing at All = Not Willing = Somewhat Willing (Neutral) = Willing = Very Willing Other

44 How to Inform the Community About Water Quality Issues

45 How Residents Would Prefer to Receive Information about Ways to Protect Lakes and Streams by percentage of respondents (multiple answers allowed) Newspapers, magazines 47% Water/sewer bill insert Television stories/ads Mail/brochures 29% 28% 34% Internet/ 15% Radio stories/ads Public meeting/event Signs/billboards Public meetings Info provided at recreation areas Classes/workshops Other 9% 7% 6% 4% 3% 1% 1% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%

46 Summary ) ) ) Many opportunities exist to educate residents about water quality issues Most residents will be receptive to water quality education and many will be willing to take action to help protect water quality resources The results for this survey can be used to: 5 identify priorities for educational messages in the community 5 provide a baseline for measuring the effectiveness of educational efforts over time

47 Questions???