More people believe that water quality is getting worse, as opposed to getting better, according to recent research.
Results from a PIE Center survey reflect the public’s opinion that water quality is getting worse in various water bodies in Florida. The study was conducted to show Floridians’ opinion of multiple water issues in the state.
Alexa Lamm, an assistant professor of public opinion analysis affiliated with the PIE Center, asked members of the general public for their thoughts on water quality in Florida’s oceans, bays, lakes, rivers, groundwater, estuaries and springs.
Most people did not think water quality has changed recently at all, but a significant amount of participants said they think quality is worsening, as opposed to improving.
Bays in particular have fared the worst in the public’s perception; 34.4 percent of respondents said quality had declined, compared to 32.6 percent that said there had been no change. Only 13.4 percent of respondents said water quality in bays has improved.
Oceans, lakes and rivers faced similar results. Only 14.6 percent said water quality in oceans has gotten better, while 33.9 percent said it was getting worse.
“That’s where the public is focusing their attention,” Lamm said of the state’s saltwater resources. “They’re not focusing their attention on freshwater resources.”
Floridians expressed less concern for the water quality in estuaries, springs and groundwater; 17.9 percent of respondents said the water quality in springs was improving, followed by 15.1 percent who felt the same about rivers.
“We have coastline on all sides, so saltwater just might be more dominant in our mind,” PIE Center Director Tracy Irani said. “When we think of water, we think about the beaches, we think about the ocean. We don’t necessarily relate it directly to freshwater and drinking water.”
Lamm, Irani and the PIE Center expect to continue tracking public opinion of water quality trends annually as part of a quarterly series of surveys designed to measure the public’s perception of issues such as immigration, habitat loss and endangered species.
