Public response to the discovery of water contamination

Technical Report · Tue Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1985

OSTI ID:5591636

Hamilton, L C

The study examines data from public-opinion surveys regarding water supply pollution and protection issues. The surveys were conducted in several New England communities with ongoing or potential water-quality problems. Results show that people generally place a high priority on water protection, even in communities where no recent crisis has raised public awareness. Where no crisis has occurred, more educated and environmentally active citizens are the group with the deepest concern. The pattern of change in the demographic predictors of concern about water quality suggests that there is a shift in the way this issue is perceived. Conflicts may arise when authorities responding to the crisis misunderstand the sources and intensity of such related concern.

• Research Organization: New Hampshire Univ., Durham (USA). Water Resources Research Center
• OSTI ID: 5591636
• Report Number(s): PB-86-198090/XAB; RR-50
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
290200 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Economics & Sociology
290300* -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Environment
Health
& Safety
520200 -- Environment
Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
AGE GROUPS
CHILDREN
DEMOGRAPHY
POLLUTION
PUBLIC OPINION
SAFETY
SURVEYS
WATER POLLUTION
WATER SUPPLY