SACRAMENTO, CA--(Marketwire - April 29, 2009) - A large majority of Californians are
concerned about having a sufficient supply of water and are willing to do
more to conserve, according to a new statewide survey released by the Save
Our Water program. The Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA) and
the California Department of Water Resources recently launched the Save Our
Water program to educate Californians about the state's water challenges
and encourage greater water conservation.
Conducted by Fairbank, Maslin, Maullin & Associates on behalf of ACWA, the
survey showed that water ranks in the top three issues of concern to
Californians, topped only by concerns about the economy and the state
budget. Sixty-one percent of Californians labeled their concern about water
supply as "very serious" -- a greater proportion than said the same for
traffic, taxes, or population growth. The proportion calling the water
issue "very serious" has gone up 10 points since 2007 and is mostly
consistent throughout all regions of the state.
In response to their growing concern about the state's water supply, people
also say they are willing to take steps to help save water. According to
the survey, more than four in five Californians (85%) say they are willing
to make significant changes in their household activities to reduce their
water use by 20% -- the target called for by Governor Schwarzenegger.
"State elected leaders know that water is a major problem for this state,
and now we know the people see that as well," said Timothy Quinn, ACWA's
executive director. "The good news is that this research tells us that
people not only recognize the problem, but are personally willing to do
something about it -- they just need to be educated on the steps they can
take. This is where Save Our Water comes in.
"One of the big goals of the Save Our Water program is to educate
Californians about where they use the most water at home," said Quinn. "The
research tells us that most Californians believe that they use more water
inside rather than outside the home, when the exact opposite is true.
Californians can save a significant amount of water simply by cutting down
on watering their lawns and gardens."
The research, which included focus groups and a statewide telephone survey
of 1,750 adult Californians, was concluded at the end of March. The goals
of the survey were to assess public awareness of the state's long-term
water shortages and gauge public willingness to reduce water use.
In addition to concerns about sufficient water supplies and the public's
willingness to conserve, other key findings of the survey included:
-- Residents perceive waste of water as a significant factor behind the
state's water shortage.
-- Many Californians lack a clear idea of how they can most effectively
reduce their water use.
-- Education can play a key role in helping Californians understand the
complexities of the state's water problems and take action to conserve.
California's Water Challenges
California's economy, environment and way of life are highly dependent on a
reliable water supply. But regulatory restrictions, climate change,
population growth and an aging infrastructure are threatening the state's
ability to meet its water needs.
The current drought has further complicated the state's water problems.
After two extremely dry years, a series of storms in early 2009 boosted
snowpack and reservoir levels, but not enough to make up for the previous
dry years. Water storage in California's main reservoirs -- a key
ingredient in defining drought conditions -- remains well below normal.
Experts say 2007-2009 now ranks in the top 10 driest three-year periods in
the last century.
California's leaders are working to develop long-term solutions, including
investments to improve the state's water infrastructure and environment
protections. Conservation is an important part of a long-term solution, but
it is only one component. Other elements include new surface and
groundwater storage to capture water when it is available; alternate Delta
conveyance to ensure reliable supply while protecting the environment;
integrated regional water management strategies to develop water supplies
locally; and research and development of alternate sources such as
desalination and recycling.
For more information about the "Save Our Water" program and ways to
conserve water, visit
www.saveourh2o.org or follow the program on Facebook
or Twitter. For more information about ACWA, visit
www.acwa.com. To learn
more about the Department of Water Resources, visit
www.water.ca.gov.
Contact Information: Media contact:
Jennifer Persike
Association of California Water Agencies
916-441-4545