Survey: Texans Surprisingly Unconcerned About Water

92% would spend tax dollars on other infrastructures over life sustaining water system

SAN FRANCISCO, CA, July 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ - Texas' easy access to drinkable water may be creating apathy for water related environmental concerns. According to a survey by FluksAqua, a free water and wastewater utility forum, Texans were surprisingly unconcerned when asked about water and how vital it is to their everyday lives.                                    

Key Findings of the Survey:

Texans may take water for granted:

• While 45.6 % of respondents enjoy drinking the recommended 3-6 8 oz glasses of water per day, an overwhelming 92% of all respondents think that our tax dollars should be spent on sectors other than water
  
  
• When preparing for a natural disaster, 39.2% of Texans would pick up food, communication, money, batteries or lighting sources before stocking up on life sustaining water
  
  
• Only 15.1% of Texans believe Water and Wastewater operators are undervalued

Texas men care more about water (even though they drink less):  

• Only 32.1% of men polled consume 1-3 glasses of water per day compared to 45.3% of women, but 43.8% of men believe water is the most important public sector to spend tax dollars on vs. 30% of women.

Texans think the industry is treading water:

While the majority of responses to the survey indicate a lack of concern for water, Texans don't see it as an undervalued industry.

• 84.9% of respondents agreed that industries such as education (39.1%) and public transit (10.8%) are more undervalued than water and wastewater operation.

Texans don't covet careers in water:

• A very small 4.9% of Texans dreamt of being a water operator when they grew up in comparison to 23.9% who wanted to be a doctor, 23.4% teacher, 15.2% astronaut, and 9.3% police officer. This could signal a potential shortage of water operators in the next generation of the industry.

"Most Texans are accustomed to safe drinking water on demand so they tend to take clean water for granted and don't always value the work water operators and water utilities do," says Dr. Hubert Colas, President of FluksAqua Americas. "Our hard working water utility workers build the foundation for our communities to operate - it is one of our most important industries."

About FluksAqua:
FluksAqua (www.fluksaqua.ca/en/) is the world's largest online community created by a dedicated group of water and wastewater professionals to facilitate a constant and interactive flow of information between operators and professionals on issues of water safety, infrastructure, conservation and optimization.

SOURCE FluksAqua