SURVEY OF PUBLIC ATTITUDES ABOUT WATER ISSUES IN COLORADO

SURVEY OF PUBLIC ATTITUDES ABOUT WATER ISSUES IN COLORADO Matt Neibauer, Reagan Waskom, and Troy Bauder Colorado State University Dept. of Soil and Crop Sciences 1

Northern Plains and Mountains Regional Water Program State Water Coordinators Colorado Troy Bauder Montana Jim Bauder North Dakota Tom Scherer South Dakota Dave Clay Utah Nancy Mesner Wyoming Ginger Paige Regional Coordinator Reagan Waskom 2

OBJECTIVES 1. Design and conduct a state-wide survey to better understand: Attitudes Public awareness Behaviors toward water quality and the environment Educational preferences 2. Gather data to identify potential future programming needs 3

COLORADO SURVEY METHODS Sent out 600 surveys 309 surveys returned completed - for a return rate of 51.5% 4

DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION Age Gender Education Occupation Size of Community Time of Residence 5

QUESTION SET 1: Feelings about the environment How important are each of the following water issues to you? Clean rivers Clean groundwater Clean drinking water Water for power generation Water for livestock Water commerce / industry Water for household landscapes Water for recreation Water for irrigation Water for aquatic habitat Water for municipal use 6

Very / Extremely Important Issues ISSUE Clean drinking water Clean rivers Clean ground water Water for aquatic habitat Water for irrigation Water for livestock Water for municipal use Water for power generation Water for commerce Water for recreation Water for landscaping PERCENT 97 95 95 82 82 75 62 61 61 45 30 7

QUESTION SET 1: Feelings about the environment How important are each of the following actions in protecting our water resources? Better agricultural practices Preservation and restoration of riparian areas / wetlands Whole watershed management Restoring disturbed lands Cleaning urban stormwater runoff Preservation of ag land and open space Improved grazing land management Better management of recreational activities 8

Very / Extremely Important Actions to Protect Water Resources ISSUE Better ag practices Preserve ag / open Space Watershed management Water for livestock Improved grazing Preserve riparian areas Urban storm water runoff Better mgmt of recreation areas PERCENT 83 80 76 75 68 68 61 51 9

QUESTION SET 2: Water Issues 20. Where do you get your drinking water? Individual well Rivers, streams, ponds, lake Purchase bottled water Community well system City water system Treat with reverse osmosis I don t know 10

Drinking Water Sources SOURCE City water system Individual well Community well system Bottled water / reverse osmosis Rivers, streams, lakes Don t t know PERCENT 74 13 8 5 0 1 11

QUESTION SET 2: Water Issues 21. Please check all conditions that apply to your home drinking water system. 12

Home Drinking Water System Condition Satisfied with my drinking water Use bottled water for drinking Water filter on my sink Never buy bottled water Not satisfied with my drinking water Regularly purchase 5-gallon 5 containers Drinking water separated from water supply Have water softener % 68 39 25 20 18 6 4 8 13

QUESTION SET 2: Water Issues 22. Do you feel your home drinking water is safe to drink? 14

Home Drinking Water Is Safe To Drink SAFE? YES NO PERCENT 92 8 Note: Not significantly different by categories of Community Size; Time in Colorado; Education, or Occupation 15

QUESTION SET 2: Water Issues 23. In your opinion, what is the quality of groundwater in your area? 24. In your opinion, what is the quality of surface waters where you live? 16

Quality Of Groundwater and Surface Waters Fair Poor but improving Poor Quality Good or excellent Good and improving Good but deteriorating No opinion / don t t know Groundwater Surface Waters -----------------%--------------- 20 9 25 14 1 4 27 15 17 25 23 2 8 10 Note: Not significantly different by categories of Gender; Education, or Occupation 17

QUESTION SET 2: Water Issues 25.How do you rate your awareness of the following factors affecting water quality? 18

Awareness of Factors Affecting Water Quality Factors Ag Water Management Animal Waste Management Very Aware 11 9 Somewhat Aware 50 37 Unaware 39 54 Drink Water / Human Health Environmental Restoration Nutrient / Pesticide Mgmt. Pollution Prevention/Assess Water Conservation Water Policy / Economics Watershed Management 31 11 12 13 39 13 10 57 59 43 54 51 61 49 12 30 45 33 10 26 41 19

QUESTION SET 2: Water Issues 26. Do you know of or suspect that any of the following pollutants affect water quality in your area? 20

Awareness of Conditions Affecting Water Quality POLLUTANT High bacteria Fertilizers/ Nitrates Heavy metals Minerals Pesticides Mining Waste Salinity Pharms NOT PROBLEM 7 6 7 6 6 11 16 10 DO NOT SUSPECT 26 19 21 19 21 22 34 25 DON T KNOW 47 41 46 43 42 41 38 49 DO SUSPECT 15 25 19 26 26 17 10 15 IS PROBLEM 5 9 8 7 5 8 2 2 21

QUESTION SET 2: Water Issues 27. What factors are the most responsible for existing pollution problems in rivers and lakes in Colorado? 22

Most Responsible for Existing Pollution Problems Factor Wastes from urban areas Industry Drought Mining Animal Agriculture Erosion from roads / construction Forest fires Runoff from landscapes Agriculture (crops) Septic systems Military bases Forestry (wood harvesting) Rangeland Management %Respondents 44 38 36 35 28 26 23 18 14 11 7 3 2 23

QUESTION SET 3: Protecting and Preserving Water Resources 29. Who should be the most responsible for protecting water quality in your community? 24

Responsibility For Protection RESPONSIBILITY PERCENT State government 51 City and county 23 Federal government Individual citizens Other Don t t know 12 7 5 2 25

QUESTION SET 3: Protecting and Preserving Water Resources 30. Have you or someone in your household done any of the following as part of an individual or community effort to conserve water or preserve water quality? (check all that apply) 26

Water Conservation or Water Quality Actions ACTION Changed the way your yard is landscaped Changed how you use water in the house Bought or installed a water saving device Changed how you wash your vehicle Chose to dispose of household chemical or yard waste at approved facility or pick- up time Changed how you deal with motor oil % Respondents 73 68 68 50 49 40 27

QUESTION SET 4: Water Quality Education 33. Would you like to learn more about any of the following water quality issue areas? (circle all that interest you) 28

Water Quality Issues Water Policy ISSUE Protecting drinking water Watershed management Community actions on water issues Fish and wildlife needs for water Nutrients and pesticide management Animal waste management Private well and septic system mgmt Irrigation management Forest mgmt and water issues Small acreage resources mgmt Watershed restoration / committees % WANT MORE EDUCATION 55 34 33 33 33 28 25 24 23 22 21 20 29

QUESTION SET 4: Water Quality Education 34. If you had the following kinds of learning opportunities available, which would you most likely take advantage of for water quality issues? (Check up to 3 items) 30

EDUCATIONAL PREFERENCES Visit web sites Watch a video Volunteer activity Attend fair/festival Attend short course OPPORTUNITY Read printed fact sheets Read newspaper articles View demonstration/display Home, farm water practices assessment Take a course for certification or credit Training for volunteer position PERCENT YES 58 58 43 19 18 12 9 9 9 6 6 31

Summary Majority of the respondents are concerned with drinking water and water quality Many were satisfied with drinking water and think it is safe Many don t t know what conditions affect their water quality Educational opportunities are present concerning water quality and drinking water Barriers to educational opportunities need to be addressed Regional survey responses differed from Colorado Opportunities exist to explore perceptions at the watershed level in Colorado 32

Contact Information Matt Neibauer Colorado State University (970) 491-5124 matt.neibauer@research.colostate.edu 33