Findings
D. How can EPA get customers more involved? How is EPA doing?
Having talked about drinking water safety, are you interested
in helping to protect your drinking water? If yes, can you think of anything
you could do?
While a number of participants said they did not want to become involved
in any activities to protect drinking water, several individuals said
they had or could develop interest in this sort of activity. For example,
one woman in Washington, DC wanted to know how she could be more aware
of potential sources of pollution in her community.
"I would like information that would help people spot places that
are constantly being bombarded with trash, which could end up in the sewer
system, which could cause problems as far as what dirt and things are
being pushed down, you know, into the water." (Washington, DC respondent)
Whose responsibility is it to protect drinking water sources
-- the water supplier, local community, State government, Federal government?
What should any of these do to protect the water supply?
A number of people said it is the government's responsibility to protect
water sources, to create and enforce laws that will ensure water pollution
is kept to a safe level, particularly when it pertains to the water source.
"Overall, it is the government's responsibility to govern this water
because we, as individuals, really cannot do anything to sway one way
or the other how the regulations are made out for water. So, we have to
depend on somebody, a much larger entity, to do that for us, and that's
what we pay tax dollars for."
While most respondents agreed with this opinion, some said it is also
industry's responsibility not to pollute the environment. Others said
it is each individual's responsibility to ensure his/her actions to not
harm the environment, and there is a need to form a working partnership
between government, industry, and the public.
"As a community, I think we need to be responsible. Just like we
shouldn't throw our garbage in our water systems, either." (Sioux Falls
respondent)
If you had not come here today and seen this information, can
you think of any other types of events that might increase your interest
in the safety of your drinking water? What else might make you interested?
Most respondents said they are impacted by special reports they see
on the television or through the newspaper. An overwhelming number of
respondents said that the media is the best way to reach a wide number
of people, particularly those who might not read newspapers or be motivated
to read pamphlets, or those who live in apartments. Respondents across
geographical areas repeatedly cited "credible" television shows such as
"20/20" or "Dateline" as a good way of sparking public interest, awareness
and concern about drinking water safety.
A few other participants said they might be motivated to volunteer if
a water crisis affected their community and/or family.
"Not unless there was going to be a health issue, you know, something
came out on the news that said start boiling your water. Then maybe I'd
take a different action." (Maryland respondent)
What role do you think the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
plays in keeping your drinking water safe? Is there anything EPA is not
doing that you think it should do?
When prompted with the EPA's name, many respondents said the role of
the EPA should be one of overall national standards setting and/or enforcement.
They also said the EPA needs to have an education role with consumers.
"I think it's their responsibility to let consumers know that their
water is safe. Maybe it will come from the county water departments, but
they should make sure that they are doing that." (Atlanta respondent)
"I think they're trying to give us good water, they're trying to
see if we've got some ideas that they haven't got. You know I think they're
trying to make sure we decent water to drink, and trying to prevent pesticides
and all that stuff going in your water." (Tacoma respondent)
One focus group in Tacoma, Washington said that they felt the EPA needs
to be more proactive than it has been in the past. Respondents said they
wanted specific information about actions EPA has taken in their area
to improve the environment, particularly because of environmental incidents
that have occurred on a local and national level. They cited pollution
problems such as Love Canal, the Hudson River, the East River, and the
pollution levels in their own bay.
"I think it would be nice if, periodically on the news, we could
get some information about something that the EPA, specifically, has done.
Because, it seems to me that, over the years -- I don't know how long
the EPA has been in existence. But they've been very slow to move on industrial
pollution. You know, we practically have to have a disaster. [...] Because
of the money. I just think the EPA is very slow to act or investigate."
(Tacoma respondent)
This viewpoint was echoed by a respondent in Sioux Falls.
"I certainly think that some of the companies and some of the different
businesses that are causing more of a hazard to your health as far as
the water goes, that they definitely should be doing more to come down
on those people and make them take care of part of the cleanup to change
the situation." (Sioux Falls respondent)
After having this discussion, how confident are you that the
water that comes from your tap is safe to drink? Does your perception
change as you have more information?
A number of respondents expressed concern about the quality and safety
of their water after seeing the information about violations in their
area. Some of those respondents had indicated they already took precautions
about the safety of their water, such as filtering, boiling, or drinking
bottled water. The information provided factual basis for their concerns;
it heightened awareness about contaminants that they cannot see, smell,
or taste. The information also prompted them to think about where their
water comes from, what can be in it, harmful effects of contaminated water,
and where they can go to find out more information.
"We all get very complacent. 'I'm sure the government must be taking
care of us. I'm sure they must be doing this right.' Maybe it takes groups
like this to wake us a little bit." (Tacoma respondent)
"When I came in here, I thought tap water was about 80 percent safe.
Now I think it's probably about 60 percent safe." (Atlanta respondent)
"I drink it because you have to drink something. But I don't think
it's completely safe." (Sioux Falls respondent)
"I might be more [involved] because even with the survey today where
you're actually calling my attention to it, talking about getting somebody
interested in it. To get people to understand more, they say a lot of
times through the eyes of a child you can see more than an adult will.
If it's presented the right way, you know he's going to go home and talk
to his parents about it." (Maryland respondent)
"I'm probably going to start filtering more water than I do now."
(Tacoma respondent)
Some individuals left the sessions prepared to do research to find out
more, and perhaps get involved in clean water activities.
"I am going to call and ask about it, if they can send me some type
of report or graph showing if there's been anything detected in our water
in the past 10 years." (Atlanta respondent)
"I think I would [volunteer] just because, again, I have children.
Maybe do some volunteer work, awareness to -- give brochures like this
to people to make sure they know what's in their water, you know, how
clean their water is." (Atlanta respondent)
Others, particularly those who said they did not think or care about
their drinking water because they had never experienced a problem, were
not as motivated by the information. They would likely take action for
their family water supply, but would need to be prompted by warnings through
the media.
"I'm really not concerned until I see brown water come out of my
tap or something." (Maryland respondent)
"If it's going to make me sick, if there's a hazard to my health
or my child or whatever, I want to know. Something major. But if it's
not, I really don't want to know."
Conclusion
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