Countywide Survey Shows High Levels of Awareness, Support for Water Conservation

April 23, 2009

A new poll commissioned by the San Diego County Water Authority shows widespread awareness of water supply challenges, strong backing…

A new poll commissioned by the San Diego County Water Authority shows widespread awareness of water supply challenges, strong backing of water conservation measures and mandatory restrictions, and continuing support for developing additional local water supplies. In another key finding, a majority of respondents now favor adding highly treated recycled water to the region’s drinking water supply.

“This survey shows the people in San Diego County are aware and concerned about our continued water supply challenges,” said Claude A. “Bud” Lewis, chair of the Water Authority’s board of directors. “It also shows that residents support investment in projects to enhance the region’s water supply reliability.”

Results of the public opinion survey, conducted by Rea & Parker Research during March, were reported today to the Water Authority’s Board of Directors. Key findings from the survey included:

“¢    Ninety-five percent of residents said they were aware that San Diego County faces a potentially significant water shortage, with 87 percent seeing the causes of this problem as long-term.

   

“¢    Respondents supported government action to impose mandatory water cutbacks in household water use by a ratio of nearly 2-to-1. Fifty-nine percent of respondents agreed or strongly agreed with such action, while 31 percent disagreed or strongly disagreed.

    

“¢    An overwhelming percentage of respondents (92 percent) see using water efficiently as a civic responsibility. Water conservation was seen as a duty on par with preventing litter/pollution and with recycling used materials, as a greater responsibility than serving on a jury, and less of a responsibility than voting in elections.

    

“¢    Confidence in the long-term reliability of San Diego County’s water supply has declined since 2006. Sixty-five percent currently feel water supplies are either very reliable or somewhat reliable, down from 77 percent three years ago.

    

“¢    Pursuing seawater desalination continues to be seen as the single most important thing that can be done to ensure a safe and reliable water supply, but conservation has doubled in importance since 2006.

    

“¢    Of the 85 percent of respondents who felt that seawater desalination is an important part of the region’s water supply reliability, nearly 60 percent indicated support for a general obligation bond to fund water supply projects, even if it added as much as $20 per month to their property taxes; 27 percent indicated opposition.

    

“¢    Support for using recycled water as part of the region’s drinking water supply has increased substantially since 2005, the last time it was asked in the Water Authority’s public opinion poll. About 63 percent of respondents in 2009 favored adding recycled water that had received advanced treatment to drinking water supplies, compared to only 28 percent in 2005.

The Water Authority regularly conducts research studies to determine San Diego County residents’ knowledge and attitudes regarding water supply issues. This year’s survey participants, contacted by telephone via random-digit dialing, included 700 adults representative of the population within the Water Authority’s service area. The margin of error was +/- 3.7 percent.

The full public opinion poll report is available at: www.sdcwa.org/about/pdf/PublicOpinionSurvey/2009_SurveyReport.pdf

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  • The San Diego County Water Authority sustains a $268 billion regional economy and the quality of life for 3.3 million residents through a multi-decade water supply diversification plan, major infrastructure investments and forward-thinking policies that promote fiscal and environmental responsibility. A public agency created in 1944, the Water Authority delivers wholesale water supplies to 23 retail water providers, including cities, special districts and a military base.

    Media Contact Information

    Jordan Beane

    Phone: (858) 221-3975

    Email: jbeane@sdcwa.org