Public Perceptions and Evaluations of Drinking Water Quality in Idaho: A 35-Year Survey Analysis
Journal Title: Opportunities and Challenges in Sustainability - Year 2024, Vol 3, Issue 3
Abstract
Water is regarded as the most critical natural resource in Idaho, with drinking water identified as its most essential aspect. To assess public perceptions and evaluations of drinking water quality, a survey instrument was developed and distributed to Idaho residents over the past 35 years. Key areas of focus included the safety of home drinking water, the use of in-home water filters, consumption of bottled water, frequency of water testing, and concerns about potential pollutants. Surveys were administered in 1988, 1993, 1998, 2002, 2005, 2010, 2015, 2018, and 2022, with findings indicating a gradual decline in perceived drinking water safety, from 90.2% in 1988 to 80.2% in 2022. The use of in-home water filtration systems increased significantly, rising from 16.2% in 1988 to 29.7% in 2022, potentially driven by extensive advertising campaigns rather than increased contamination concerns. Bottled water usage peaked at 33% in 2010 but has since declined to less than 11% in 2022, a trend attributed to heightened public awareness of tap water safety and environmental concerns related to plastic waste. No significant long-term patterns in water testing were observed, although rural residents, who rely on private wells, were more likely to test their water due to the absence of regular testing requirements. Hard water (with a high content of Ca and/or Mg) emerged as the primary contaminant identified by respondents, with no other significant pollutants widely reported. These findings offer valuable insights into shifting public perceptions of water quality and the factors influencing household water consumption practices in Idaho over the last three decades.
Authors and Affiliations
robert l. mahler
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP752307
- DOI https://doi.org/10.56578/ocs030301
- Views 26
- Downloads 0
Economic Impact of Defense Expenditures in Turkey: A Dual-Approach Analysis from 1974 to 2021
This study presents a comprehensive analysis of the influence of defense expenditures on the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in Turkey from 1974 to 2021. Defense spending, crucial for national security, often diverges from...
Factors Influencing Customer Loyalty in the Retail Banking Sector: A Study of Financial-Banking Services in the Republic of Moldova
Purpose of this research is to identify the nature of loyalty, the valence/dimensionality of this concept, and the factors that determine customers of banking products/services in the Republic of Moldova to establish lon...
Public Perceptions and Evaluations of Drinking Water Quality in Idaho: A 35-Year Survey Analysis
Water is regarded as the most critical natural resource in Idaho, with drinking water identified as its most essential aspect. To assess public perceptions and evaluations of drinking water quality, a survey instrument w...
Innovative Development as Determinant of Corporate Economic Security
The current challenges of globalization provide business entities of various economic systems with multifaceted opportunities, while creating new threats to economic security. These and other challenges require enterpris...
Urban Ecological Compensation Through Water Resource Ecological Footprint
To accelerate the exchange of water rights between regions and address the uneven costs of water resource ecological protection among different districts in urban areas, it is essential to make an analysis of regional wa...