Water Attitudes and Perceptions in Oklahoma: Results of a Statewide

SurveyDamian C. Adams,

Asst. Prof., Department of Agricultural Economics, Oklahoma State University

Mike D. Smolen, Prof. & Water Quality Coordinator, Department of Biosystems & Agricultural

Engineering, Oklahoma State University

Robert L. Mahler, Prof. & Water Quality Coordinator, Department of Soil Science, University of Idaho

OverviewFunded by Southern Regional Water Program

– USDA/CSREESEvaluate attitudes & perceptions on waterSurveys in 6 states – Oklahoma, Texas,

Arkansas, Louisiana, Tennessee and Florida54 questions on water quality and quantity

Survey ImplementationRespondent class: equal male/female, over

18, otherwise balanced to 2000 US CensusDillman (2005) survey method: Pre-survey

introductory letter, pre-survey reminder post cards, mailed surveys, additional reminders and follow-ups

July/August 2008272/500 completed (54.5% response rate)

Respondent ProfilesWhere do you live?

In city limits 77.7%Outside city, no farming 14.5%

Outside city, farming 7.8%Community size

≥ 100k 32.4%25 - 100k 29.5%

7 - 25k 16.6%3.5 - 7k 7.9%≤ 3.5k 13.7%

Years in Oklahoma All 49.2%> 9 39.1%

5 - 9 7.8%< 5 3.9%

Gender Male 63.4%

Female 36.6%Age ≤ 30 3.9%

30 - 39 11.0%40 - 49 11.8%50 - 59 26.3%60 - 69 20.4%

≥ 70 26.7%Education

Some high school or less 5.6%High school graduate 17.5%

Some college 35.3%College graduate 25.0%

Advanced college degree 16.7%

Environmental attitude?Attitudinal scale regarding environmental issues

For total natural resource use 0 13.6%

. 1 2.0%

. 2 2.4%

. 3 3.6%

Equal balance between use and protection (Average American adult)

4 11.2%

5 35.6%

. 6 19.2%

. 7 12.0%

. 8 0.0%

For total environmental protection 9 0.4%

Summary Results

How important are the following water issues to you?

IssueNot

importantSomewhat important

No opinion

Very important

Extremely important

Clean… Rivers and lakes 0.0% 0.8% 0.8% 25.0% 73.4%Drinking water 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 4.4% 95.6%Groundwater 0.0% 0.8% 2.4% 25.5% 71.3%

Water for… Commerce/industry/power gen 0.4% 4.4% 7.6% 47.4% 40.2%

Household landscapes 4.4% 27.4% 13.5% 30.6% 24.2%Agriculture 1.2% 2.0% 3.6% 34.7% 58.6%

Aquatic habitat 0.4% 9.2% 3.6% 37.6% 49.2%Recreation 3.6% 18.3% 8.0% 42.2% 27.9%

Municipal use 1.6% 6.4% 8.0% 38.8% 45.2%Water transfer/sale…

Interstate 10.5% 6.9% 32.8% 25.5% 24.3%Within state 4.4% 5.2% 31.8% 32.1% 26.6%

Hypoxia (Gulf dead zone) 2.0% 6.9% 55.9% 19.8% 15.4%

Importance of actions in protecting our water resources?

IssueNot

importantSomewhat important

No opinion

Very important

Extremely important

Water treatment… Treating stormwater runoff 2.8% 13.2% 15.1% 42.2% 26.7%

Improving wastewater treatment 0.0% 4.0% 5.6% 41.7% 48.8%Water conservation & practices…

Residential water conservation 0.4% 7.2% 8.8% 40.2% 43.4%Building new water storage structures 1.2% 7.6% 12.4% 42.6% 36.3%Improving home & garden practices 1.6% 14.3% 9.5% 48.8% 25.8%

Improving agricultural practices 0.4% 4.0% 6.4% 53.6% 35.7%Land management… Preserving/restoring buffer zones & wetlands 2.8% 11.5% 13.1% 42.9% 29.8%

Preserving agricultural land & open space 0.4% 8.4% 8.4% 43.2% 39.6%Better management of recreational activities 1.2% 17.1% 16.3% 41.3% 24.2%

Better shoreline access to prevent erosion 0.8% 12.7% 11.5% 44.8% 30.2%Awareness...

Improving water quality monitoring 0.0% 4.4% 2.8% 35.1% 57.8%Making water data available to public 0.4% 7.2% 7.2% 41.8% 43.4%

Educating municipal officials 0.4% 3.2% 6.8% 39.8% 49.8%

Issue Importance by Community Size

≥ 100k 25 - 100k 7 - 25k 3.5 - 7k ≤ 3.5k0%

10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%

100%

“Important” or “Very Important” Issues

Aquatic Habitat Residential water conservationRecreation Interstate water sales

Drinking Water SourcePrimary drinking water source…

Private supply 11.3%

Public supply - municipal 62.5%

Public supply - rural district 12.9%

Buy bottled water 12.1%

Do not know 1.2%Drinking water separate from

supply 7.6%

Treatment…

Have a water treatment system 8.3%

Have a water filter 34.1%

Bottled water…

Purchase 5-gallon water bottles 8.0%

Often use bottled water 48.1%

Never buy bottled water 20.5%

Satisfaction with source…

Unsatisfied with drinking water 25.4%

Home tap drinking water is safe 79.5%

Have home drinking water tested 12.4%

Protecting & Preserving Water Resources

Quality of water where you live is…

Good or excellent

Good, improving

Good, deteriorating Fair

Poor, but improving Poor

Do not know

Groundwater 18.0% 8.2% 16.4% 12.5% 0.4% 10.2% 34.4%Surface water 7.8% 12.8% 18.6% 30.6% 3.9% 9.7% 16.7%

Water quantity is a problem where you liveDefinitely

notProbably

notDo not know Probably

Definitely yes

19.0% 42.6% 12.4% 14.0% 12.0%

How well are these fulfilling their responsibility for protecting water resources?

Groups Very wellModerately

well Do not knowSomewhat

poorly Very poorlyFederal government 3.6% 24.3% 40.2% 25.9% 6.0%

State government 4.8% 37.5% 30.7% 19.9% 7.2%Your county, city, or town 11.7% 35.8% 24.5% 18.7% 9.3%

Individual citizens 3.2% 21.0% 39.3% 25.8% 10.7%

Water Quantity Perceptions

≥ 100k 25 - 100k

7 - 25k 3.5 - 7k ≤ 3.5k0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

Water Quantity a Problem↑ Chance of Pro-longued DroughtLow Change of Enough in 10 yrs

Community Size

Tap Water Safety

Male Female0.0%

20.0%40.0%60.0%80.0%

100.0%Gender Gap

≤ 30 30 - 39

40 - 49

50 - 59

60 - 69

≥ 700.0%

20.0%40.0%60.0%80.0%

100.0%Age Gap

≥ 100k

25 - 100k

7 - 25k

3.5 - 7k

≤ 3.5k

0.0%20.0%40.0%60.0%80.0%

100.0%Community Size Gap

Pollutants affecting water quality in your area?Pollutant

Know it is NOT a problem

Suspect it is NOT a problem Do not know

Suspect it IS a problem

Know it IS a problem

Pathogens 5.2% 16.3% 50.4% 23.0% 5.2%

Fertilizer - Nitrates 2.8% 11.9% 43.7% 31.4% 10.3%

Fertilizer - Phosphates 2.8% 11.2% 45.2% 30.0% 10.8%

Heavy metals 3.6% 16.5% 54.6% 20.5% 4.8%

Minerals 4.8% 11.2% 54.6% 22.7% 6.8%

Pesticides 3.6% 14.5% 46.0% 27.8% 8.1%

Salinity 15.5% 28.1% 45.9% 7.3% 3.3%

Pharmaceuticals 6.0% 22.3% 54.2% 13.9% 3.6%

Petroleum products 5.6% 16.5% 47.4% 26.5% 4.0%

Algae 2.8% 14.0% 47.2% 25.6% 10.4%

Mining waste 11.7% 28.1% 49.4% 6.0% 4.8%

Septic tanks 8.8% 20.3% 55.0% 12.8% 3.2%

Sources Most Responsible?Most responsible for pollution problems in rivers & lakes in OK (Circle up to 3)

Agriculture - animals 39.4%

Industry 31.4%

Oil wells & mining 30.3%

Stormwater runoff 27.7%

Agriculture - crops 23.1%

Erosion from roads and/or construction, repair 20.5%

Wastewater treatment plants 18.2%

Landfills 17.8%

New suburban development 15.5%

Septic systems 15.2%

Runoff from home landscapes 14.4%

Forestry 3.8%

Military bases 3.0%

Enough water? Efforts?Likelihood of your area suffering a

prolonged droughtIncreasing 29.0%

Decreasing 5.5%

Staying the same 47.1%

No opinion 18.4%

Likelihood of having enough water resources to meet all needs in 10 years

High (likely enough water) 29.8%

Medium 40.7%

Low (likely not enough water) 19.8%

No opinion 9.7%

Individual or community effort to conserve water or preserve water quality? (check all)

Changed the way your yard is landscaped 19.3%

Changed how often you water your yard 54.6%

Changed your use of pesticides, fertilizers, or other chemicals 28.8%

Pumped your septic system (if you have one) 9.9%

Adopted new water conservation technologies (low flow faucets, etc) 30.3%

Impacts of Climate Change?Will the amount of rainfall in your area change

as a result of climate change?

Increase significantly 6.0%

Increase slightly 8.0%

No change in rainfall 20.8%

Decrease slightly 12.4%

Decrease significantly 7.6%

Do not know 45.2%

Learning Opportunities - TopicsWould you like to learn more about

the following?

Protecting public drinking water supplies 46.2%

Water rights 27.3%

Home and garden landscaping 25.0%

Nutrient and pesticide management 23.9%

Fish and wildlife water needs 23.9%

Watershed management 22.4%

Animal waste management 21.6%

Private well protection 21.6%

Restoring fish and aquatic habitat 20.1%

Septic system management 19.7%

Water policy and economics 15.2%

Community actions concerning water issues 15.2%

Watershed restoration 14.0%

Landscape buffers 12.5%

Shoreline clean-up 12.1%

Irrigation management 10.2%

Forest management and water issues 9.5%

Learning Opportunities - ModesLearning opportunities you would most likely take advantage of (Up to 3)

Printed fact sheets, bulletins, or brochures 46.2%

Watch TV coverage 45.5%

Read a newspaper article or series 42.1%

Visit a web site 34.5%

Watch a video of information 13.3%

Attend a fair or festival 11.4%Learn how to conduct a home, farm, or workplace water practices

assessment 11.0%

Look at a demonstration or display 7.2%

Attend a short course or workshop 6.4%

Take pare in a onetime volunteer activity 6.4%

Take a short course for certification or credit 4.9%

Get trained for a regular volunteer position 4.6%

Sources of informationWhere do you normally get your news?

Local TV 74.2%

Local newspapers 72.4%

National TV 52.7%

Cable TV 51.5%

Radio 42.4%

Internet 37.5%

Magazines or newsletters 34.9%

Public TV 28.0%

Major newspapers 22.7%

Have you received water resources information from the following?

Local newspapers 59.5%

Public TV 44.1%

Network TV 31.4%

Magazines 31.3%

Friends and family 31.0%

Cable TV 28.2%

Environmental agencies 24.9%

Major newspapers 23.8%

OK Cooperative Extension Service 21.3%

Environmental groups 20.7%

Radio 18.8%

Universities 17.2%

Schools 6.7%

Changed views?

Have you ever changed your mind about an environmental issue as a result of…

News coverage 45.1%

Firsthand observation 30.7%

Conversations with other people 29.9%

Financial considerations 14.0%

Classes or presentations 8.3%

Attending public meetings or participating in volunteer activities 6.8%

Speech by an elected official 3.0%

ConclusionVery high importance, conflicting usesPreferences & perceptions differ by

community size & other demographicsUncertainty & concern for current/future

suppliesEducation/Awareness opportunitiesAnalysis ongoing…

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