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Xylem Value of Water Interactive Report 2012
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Value of Water Index

  1.  
    1. Recognition of the Water Crisis
    1. Clean Water is Perceived as Vital and Increasingly at Risk
    2. Concern About Water Infrastructure and Demand for Reform are Growing
    3.  
       
  2.  
    2. Government Has a Role to Play
    1. Belief That All Levels of Government Need to Invest in Water Infrastructure
    2. Local and Municipal Entities Trusted Most to Address the Problem
    3.  
       
  3.  
    3. A Sense of Personal Responsibility
    1. Willing to Pay More for Water Infrastructure Upgrades
    2. Growing Willingness to Take Personal Responsibility
    3.  
       
  4.  
    4. Level of Disconnect Remains
    1. Unaware of Water Cost Drivers and Water Footprint
    2. Disregard Personal Impact of Water Challenges
    3.  
       
  5. 5. The Value of Water Index
 
 
 
 

The Report

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About

  • 1. Recognition of the Water Crisis

    Americans recognize that demands on the nation’s water resources are growing and are concerned about our infrastructure system. They believe reform or a complete overhaul are needed.

     

  • Clean Water is Perceived as Vital and Increasingly at Risk

     
    • Overall
    • Democrats
    • Republicans
    • Willing to pay
    • Not willing to pay
     
    Roll over icon/text
    for more detail
    50%
     
     
    97%
    consider water an important service on par with electricity and heat
    98%
    Electricity
     
     
    97%
    Water
     
     
    92%
    Heat
     
     
    83%
    Gas
     
     
    62%
    Telephone
     
     
     
    98%
    believe every American deserves clean water
     
    80%
    recognize that demand is growing and water is becoming scarce
     
    50%
    believe our pipes are old and leaking too much water
     
    59%
    believe people are wasting too much water
     
    86%
    have experienced the impact of water shortages and contamination
     

  • Concern About Water Infrastructure and Demand for Reform are Growing

     
     
    Roll over icon/text
    for more detail
     
    3/4
    concerned about infrastructure of Americans are concerned about the state of the nation’s water infrastructure system
    31%
    very concerned about infrastructure say very concerned in 2012 as opposed to 22% in 2010
    66%
    believe water pipes are crumbling of Americans believe that water pipes and systems in America are crumbling and approaching a state of crisis
     
    reform
    80%
    in 2010
    reform
    88%
    in 2012
    Americans believe our water infrastructure needs reform An increasing number of Americans believe our water infrastructure needs some sort of reform

  • 2. Government Has a Role to Play

    Americans believe the government should invest more time and money into upgrading our water pipes and systems and trust local and municipal governments over other entities.

     

  • Belief That All Levels of Government Need to Invest in Water Infrastructure

     
     
    Roll over icon/text
    for more detail
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    88%
    believe government entities have a role to play in solving water-related issues
     
     
     
    Americans believe that all levels of government have a role to play
    Local/municipal 33%
    State 28%
    Federal 27%
     
    85%
    believe government should invest money
    in upgrading our water pipes and system
    79%
    believe government officials should spend more time
    addressing water issues
     

  • Local and Municipal Entities Trusted Most to Address This Problem

     
    • Overall
    • Democrats
    • Republicans
    • Willing to pay
    • Not willing to pay
     
     
     
    33%
     
     
    28%
     
     
    27%
    Local/municipal
    State
    Federal
     

  • 3. A Sense of Personal Responsibility

    Americans recognize that they also have a personal role to play and are willing to pay for upgrades to the water system.

     

  • Willing to Pay More for Water Infrastructure Upgrades

     
     
    Roll over icon/text
    for more detail
    All
    image/svg+xml
    Overall
     
    Gender
    image/svg+xml
    Male
    image/svg+xml
    Female
     
    Party
    image/svg+xml
    Democrats
    image/svg+xml
    Republicans
     
    Age
    image/svg+xml
    Generation X
    image/svg+xml
    Baby Boomers
     
    Click above to customize data
     
    75%
    willing to pay more for water infrastructure that conserves energy
     
    70%
    willing to pay more to ensure every American has access to clean water
     
    61%
    willing to pay a little more money each month to upgrade the water system
     

  • Growing Willingness to Take Personal Responsibility

     
    • Overall
    • Democrats
    • Republicans
    • Willing to pay
    • Not willing to pay
     
    Roll over icon/text
    for more detail
     
     
    $6.20
    per month on average in 2010
     
    $7.70
    per month on average in 2012
    =
    12%     increase in water infrastructure investments
    Willing to pay
    24%
    more than in 2010     24%
    increase in amount Americans are willing to pay since 2010
     
    59% would pay more now to avoid future increases would pay more for water now to avoid excessive increases in the future
     
    72% would advocate about water infrastructure would advocate about the positive economic impact of water infrastructure

  • 4. Level of Disconnect Remains

    Americans are largely unaware of the factors impacting water costs, their water footprint or the extent to which water infrastructure problems would impact them personally.

     

  • Unaware of Water Cost Drivers and Water Footprint

     
     
    Roll over icon/text
    for more detail
    image/svg+xml
    Perceived factors
    image/svg+xml
    Water use
    Water quality
    Access to water
    Utility company management

    Half of Americans
    estimate their average
    water use is

    50gallons/day
     
    image/svg+xml
    Real factors*
    image/svg+xml
    Rate structure
    Financial factors (labor, debt, infrastructure improvements)
    Service population
    Water source

    Yet they traditionally use
    double that amount*

    100gallons/day
     

    *according to Columbia Water Center

    image/svg+xml

  • Disregard Personal Impact of Water Challenges

     
    • Overall
    • Democrats
    • Republicans
    • Willing to pay
    • Not willing to pay
     
    Roll over icon/text
    for more detail
     
     
    70%
    take access to clean water for granted
     
     
    64%
    don't worry about the water that comes out of their tap because it is generally clean and unpolluted
     
     
    29%
    believe that water infrastructure problems would affect them a "great deal" compared to 41% in 2010
     
     

  • The Value of Water Index

    Explore the full set of 2012 Value of Water Index findings and assess Americans' responses to all survey questions in greater detail. Where applicable, 2012 and 2010 data are compared to showcase shifts in perception.

     

  • Question …

    …

    …
    Democrat — Republican
    • Overall
    • Democrat — Republican
    • Northeast — West
    • Midwest — South
    • Willing to pay — Not willing to pay
    • Customize...
     
    …
    …
    A
     
    …
    B
     
    …
    ◀ … …
     
     

    The total percentages do not always total 100 due to rounding.

 
 
 
 

Customize

Population A

 

Population B

 
  • …:
    • …
 

Population B

Age

  • Millenial (18-34)
  • Gen X (35-44)
  • Boomer (45-64)
  • Senior (65+)

Income

  • < 50K
  • 50K-75K
  • 75K-100K
  • 100K+

Gender

  • Male
  • Female

Education

  • High school or less
  • Some college
  • College+
 

Home Water Source

  • Well
  • Municipal
  • Doesn't Know

Willing to Pay More

  • Yes
  • No

Pays Water Bill

  • Yes
  • No
 

Region

West Midwest South Northeast

Location

  • City
  • Town
  • Suburb
  • Rural

Party

  • Democrat
  • Republican
  • Independant
 
 
 
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