Water matters

Water matters

The quality and quantity of water available rank as the two most important environmental issues facing California, followed closely by air quality. The findings emerged as part of a recently released research study by the California water awareness campaign (CWAC). Of ten statewide issues, water quality and water supply ranked at the top with 83 percent and 82 percent of respondents,respectively, rating them as "very important". Air quality followed closely at 80 percent. Urban development and manufacturing ranked lowest in importance. Women viewed water issues as more important than did men. Of eight issues relating only to water, pollution, quality and security of water supplies ranked highest in importance. The cost of water was ranked least important. The study was conducted at the end of 2001 by telephone interview to 600 California adult residents to evaluate perceptions of water and other environmental issues.