Water providers face difficult decisions when compliance
with regulatory standards does not satisfy public
demands for improved water quality. This study
examined a community's response to a system upgrade
with respect to perceptions of water quality, use of
household water treatment, and purchase of bottled
water. Economic implications were also investigated,
including the comprehensive community benefits accruing
to improved treatment.
Information was obtained by surveying 590 residents
in Bowling Green, Ohio, in 1997-98 before a
substantial system upgrade was implemented, and 714
residents in 2004 after the upgrade had been in place
for several years. Results showed that the community
response included meaningful increased satisfaction
with municipal water quality and that overall community
costs for drinking water were not increased.
Increased municipal costs were offset by reduced
reliance on more expensive alternative supplies of
drinking water. The data and conclusions presented
should help other utilities weighing the costs and benefits
of upgrades to their systems. Includes 25 references, tables, figure.
| Edition : | Vol. 99 - No. 5 |
| File Size : | 1
file
, 330 KB |
| Note : | This product is unavailable in Ukraine, Russia, Belarus |
| Number of Pages : | 10 |
| Published : | 05/01/2007 |
