According to a survey commissioned by OPB's EarthFix, Northwest residents rank water quality as their number one environmental concern. This month OPB released the results of the survey which polled 1,200 residents in Oregon, Washington, and Idaho. Water Quality ranked as the number one concern when the question was asked open-ended and when the participants were asked to rank a provided list.
Although many of us in the Pacific Northwest feel particularly connected to our rivers and salmon, water quality is a top national concern as well. A 2011 Gallup Environmental Poll showed similar results on a nation-wide scale with water pollution taking the top spot as America's #1 environmental concern.
The Gallup Poll results state, "although the United States has experienced nothing like the mass drinking-water scare that is gripping Japan during its current nuclear crisis, Americans largely recognize the importance of clean water to their lives."
Columbia Riverkeeper takes these issues to heart working tirelessly to protect and restore the water quality of our iconic river.
Follow the links for more information about the polls:
OPB EarthFix Poll: http://earthfix.opb.org/communities/article/the-earthfix-poll-northwest-residents-attitudes-an/
Gallup Poll: http://www.gallup.com/poll/146810/water-issues-worry-americans-global-warming-least.aspx
