Georgians are willing to pay monthly water bills $10 higher if
the result is safer
drinking water. That’s one of the findings of a survey by
University of Georgia
agricultural economist Jeff Jordan.
Jordan, a researcher with the College of Agricultural and
Environmental Sciences in
Griffin, Ga., has conducted many surveys on water and the costs
of providing it. He
designed the most recent study to find out how much Georgians
would be willing to
pay for safer drinking water.
The survey was conducted through the UGA Survey Research Center
on the Athens,
Ga., campus.
“What prompted me to conduct the survey was last year’s debate
in Congress over the
reauthorization of the Safe Drinking Water Act,” Jordan
said. “The water industry is
concerned that the Safe Drinking Water Act will raise water
costs higher than people
would be willing to pay. It occurred to me that I didn’t know
that to be true.”
The Safe Drinking Water Act governs how water utilities process
and distribute water.
It sets standards as to the percentage of contaminants allowed
in U.S. drinking water.
President Bill Clinton signed the act last fall.
The UGA random telephone survey included 400 residents across
the state. They first
listened to a statement on the potential effects of the Safe
Drinking Water Act. Then
they were asked if they would vote in favor of the act, even if
it meant higher water
bills. Nearly two out of three — 64 percent — said they
would.
How much more would they be willing to pay per month? The
average response was
$10.34. That’s a 44 percent increase over the average Georgia
water bill.
“This tells us that the average person is willing to see their
water bill go up almost 50
percent to pay for the Safe Drinking Water Act,” said
Jordan. “This figure is much
higher than the estimated cost of the provisions of the act.”
Of the people surveyed, 81 percent were either very concerned or
somewhat concerned
over water contamination in Georgia. On the other hand, 70
percent feel their water is
safe or very safe. Only 4 percent believe it is very unsafe.
Still, concerns over water quality led 13 percent to use water
filtering systems. About 9
percent boil their drinking water, and 40 percent use bottled
water.
What do people like most about their water? Of the people
surveyed, 82 percent were
happy with their water’s appearance. The figures dropped to 77
percent for its odor and
70 percent for its taste.
When asked if they would prefer increased programs for safer
food or safer water,
most favored safer water programs.
“You can control how you cook your food and what you eat, but
you can’t control your
water,” Jordan said of the responses. “The water coming out of
the tap is what you get.
You have no choice, other than using bottled water.”
Overall, the survey showed that while Georgians don’t want to
pay higher water bills,
they will if the cost results in improved water quality.
“Local water utilities can now begin to inform and educate their
customers on the Safe
Drinking Water Act and prepare them for higher costs,” said
Jordan.
