News
April 18, 2008
Polls Show Voters Aware Of Water Shortage, Willing To "Slow The Flow"
A poll conducted by OnPoint Polling and Research found that registered voters in the Triangle are overwhelmingly aware of the area’s water shortage and are willing to do their part to save water. OnPoint Polling donated the public opinion survey to the Raleigh City Council-appointed Water Conservation Council, which is working to promote water conservation.
The Water Conservation Council has kicked off a water conservation education campaign with its “Slow the Flow” logo that was designed gratis by Clean Design.
The poll found that 93 percent of respondents claimed they had recently taken steps at home to reduce water use.
When asked if there is a shortage in the Triangle’s public water supply, 82 percent of respondents said yes; 11 percent said no; and 7 percent were not sure.
When asked about their personal water use, 43 percent said their household uses “very little” water and only 1 percent admitted to using “lots of water.” The remaining 55 percent responded they use amounts in between “very little” and “lots.”
Perhaps the most encouraging findings from the poll for local Triangle governments and organizations striving to convert the public’s water consumption to conservation was the response that 64 percent said they could make a “big difference” when asked whether regular households could alter the water deficit in the future. Only 11 percent responded that they could make “very littler or no difference at all” while 24 percent said they could make “somewhat a difference.”
When asked whether they would take three specific steps to reduce water use:
- 82 percent said they would take shorter showers while 14 percent would not;
- 72 percent said they would wash clothes less often, while 23 percent would not; and,
- 67 percent said they would put a closed plastic container of water in the toilet tank to reduce flushing volume, while 24 percent would not.
Misperception Revealed
The poll also identified a public misperception. Overall, 53 percent of the respondents said that businesses use the most water, while 20 percent said households do and 17 percent thought government was the biggest user. Residences account for 58.39 percent of the water used in the Raleigh water system.
OnPoint Polling and Research surveyed 512 registered voters in Wake, Durham and Orange counties on March 11, following three significant rain events that began the replenishing of area water supplies. The survey has a margin of error of plus/minus 4.6 percent with a 95 percent confidence rating. For more information, go to www.onpointpolling.com.
Prepared by:
Jayne Kirkpatrick
Director
Public Affairs Department
For More Information Contact:
Tim McKay
OnPoint Polling And Research
Public Affairs Department
303 West Jones Street, Suite 210
Raleigh, NC 27603
919-345-8323
|
