Water Identified Among Top Environmental Issues For
Colorado
Aug. 1, 2008 - DENVER - A recent survey for the Water
Quality Control Division of the Colorado Department of
Public Health and Environment will help guide future
policy-making and public outreach efforts regarding water
issues in the state. While three-quarters of Coloradans
surveyed said the quality of water in lakes, rivers and
streams as a source of drinking water is very important to
them, about a third of Coloradans did not know where storm
or rainwater runoff goes when it enters a storm drain in
their community. These findings and many others were
identified in the survey to obtain baseline information on
what people know about sources of water pollution, how
people learn about water quality issues and what are the
best ways to inform and educate the public about water
quality issues. The survey is a collaboration of the Water
Quality Control Division, the Colorado Foundation for
Agriculture, Colorado State University, Nonpoint Source
Colorado and the city of Boulder’s Keep It Clean
Partnership. The survey of 1,929 residents was paid for by
$50,000 from the Nonpoint Source Management program of the
state’s Water Quality Control Division, along with $45,000
from the Colorado Foundation for Agriculture, a nonprofit
organization that conducts statewide education and outreach
activities. The survey was conducted by Corona Research.
“The Water Quality Control Division and our survey partners
hope to use information from the survey findings to better
inform the public about water quality issues facing the
state,” said Steve Gunderson, director of the division.
“Coloradans are fortunate to live at the headwaters of many
streams and rivers, so we generally enjoy clean drinking
water. But as the state continues to grow, we need to work
together to help protect streams, lakes and rivers for
generations to come.” In the survey, residents said water
(34 percent) and air pollution (35 percent) are the most
important environmental issues facing the state. Sixty-eight
percent said water pollution was one of the two most
important issues to Coloradans. The entire 343-page survey
findings can be found at
www.npscolorado.com . The survey also found that nearly
all Coloradoans agree their actions can affect water quality
in downstream areas (60 percent strongly agreed, 28 percent
somewhat agreed). “We are very pleased that so many
Coloradans place a high value on preserving our air and
water quality,” added Gunderson. “Knowing the public’s
priorities can help direct us in planning and policy efforts
to protect the things Coloradans value.” |
