Survey: Valley residents worried about water

• It is not that surprising that water is the top issue for the San Joaquin Valley.
• According to the CWC, low-income families spend up to 10 percent of their monthly income on drinking water.

Reliable access to clean drinking water is a problem for one in five San Joaquin Valley residents, according to a Fresno State survey released this month.

The survey, completed in late March, also found 75 percent of the people contacted were either “very concerned” or “somewhat concerned’ about a future water supply.

“Given the problems for some with access to clean drinking water and the high level of concern about future water supply, it is not that surprising that water is the top issue for the San Joaquin Valley,” the survey stated said.

In total, 31 percent of the adults interviewed identified water as the most important local issue, ranking ahead of job creation, crime, drugs and immigration. The environment, which in this survey included air quality, pollution, and global warming, ranked fifth most concerning among residents.

The Institute for Leadership and Public Policy, which is under Fresno State’s College of Social Science, conducted the survey. In total, surveyors contacted 541 adults in Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera, Merced, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, and Tulare counties.

The interviews were completed between March 13 and 16, just about the time Gov. Jerry Brown declared the emergency drought around the state over. However, Brown left in place the drought order in Fresno, Kings and Tulare counties.

Some residents in those three counties will continue receiving emergency drinking water.

The survey also included political affiliation and ethnic breakdowns.

According to the survey, Democrats and Independents were more likely than Republicans to identify access to drinking water as a problem. Democrats, at 25 percent, and Independents, 18 percent, said it was a problem at least “sometimes.” Registered Republicans said it was a problem 9 percent of the time.

Latinos were also the most likely racial and ethnic group to say access to drinking water was a problem.

The concern for a clean, reliable water source, which rated at 75 percent, remained high despite the wet, rainy winter, according to the survey.

In completing the survey, the institute used the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2015 American Community Bureau Survey population estimates to compare regional demographics and ensure representativeness.

Waterwise: Drought-relief well in Porterville nearly done

Waterwise: Conservation by the toilet flush

More water news

The Community Water Center has launched a fundraising campaign to bring safe drinking water to California residents.

Recently, the Los Angeles Times reported more than one million Californians are being exposed to unsafe drinking water annually.

According to the CWC, low-income families spend up to 10 percent of their monthly income on drinking water.

Donations made to the center will help advance community-driven water solutions through organizing, education and advocacy.

There are two ways to donate to the CWC. Donations can be dropped off or mailed to the center, 311 W. Murray Ave., Visalia, CA 93291 with a completed form.

Donors can also log on to http://bit.ly/1Np626W.

The donation can be made in conjunction with National Drinking Water Week 2017, which runs through Sunday.

Waterwise is a news and notes column Reporter Luis Hernandez compiles. Send Waterwise ideas and suggestions to the reporter on twitter @lfhernanvtd.