Survey: Among Environmental Issues, Americans Most Worried About Water Quality
Among the most significant environmental concerns facing the country, Americans are the most concerned about the ones that affect water quality, according to the latest iteration of Gallup’s yearly environment survey.
“Majorities express ‘a great deal’ of worry about the pollution of both drinking water (56%) and rivers, lakes and reservoirs (53%),” per Gallup. “Although degrees of worry have shifted over time, the rank order has remained largely consistent, with water pollution outpacing all other threats.”
The poll, which has been conducted for the last 21 years, found that water-quality concerns outranked concerns around loss of tropical rainforests, climate change, air pollution, and the extinction of plants and animals. And it also found a distinct difference in viewpoints around these issues based on political leanings.
White House Pressured To Intervene On Forthcoming Drinking Water Shutoffs
As the novel coronavirus pandemic impacted Americans’ ability to earn income and pay for fundamental services, drinking water utilities around the country have waived fees or suspended shutoffs for those households that haven’t been able to pay their bills. But with shutoffs looming again in many states, some have asked for federal intervention to help consumers maintain access to drinking water.
“Utility protections enacted in the early months of the pandemic are slated to expire in some states including Hawaii, New York, Pennsylvania and Vermont over the next few weeks,”