Water Issues Survey

by Leslie Lytle, Messenger Staff Writer
Reviewing the results of the water issues survey she helped develop and analyze, student Emie Oliver said the purpose of the survey was to study community perception of water scarcity, wastewater treatment and the role of a constructed wetlands in treating wastewater.
 Significant in the responses of the 161 students and community members surveyed, the majority cited recycling municipal wastewater for industrial use as the top means for addressing water scarcity.
 Respondents tended to be more knowledgeable about water quality issues than the wastewater treatment process, Oliver said. “Some respondents didn’t know how their wastewater was treated and where the water goes following treatment, but most respondents knew where their water came from.”
 Respondents cited websites, social media and newspapers as the best means for communicating water issues to the public, but Oliver cautioned the results might be skewed since a large percentage of the respondents were students who frequently use electronic communication methods.
The researchers hope to use the survey information to develop an outreach campaign, including a website, articles in The Messenger, meetings with community groups and increasing community involvement with the experimental wetlands at the SUD wastewater treatment plant.