Morrison-Cronkite Poll Results: Water a Concern For Arizonans

Cronkite News: Education, water top poll for Arizonans

Cronkite News reported that a poll by the Morrison Institute for Public Policy and the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University suggests that education and water are concerns on the minds of Arizonans. Nearly nine out of 10 respondents ranked K-12 education and water quality a very high or high priority. David Daugherty, the Morrison Institute’s associate director, said the results on education reflect an impression that public education in Arizona isn’t on par with other states.

Sarah Porter, director of the Morrison Institute’s Kyl Center for Water Policy, said she thinks part of the reason respondents rated water as a priority is the prolonged drought and concerns about a looming shortage.

“Potential for cuts to take place on water supply makes people think about water,” she said. “It’s a good thing people are paying attention.”

Kathleen Ferris, executive director of the Arizona Municipal Water Users Association, said there are times when people care about water and times when they don’t. “I am delighted that water is in the top two,” she said. “It’s a positive way of moving forward in water issues.”

The poll surveyed 754 Arizona adults to assess their opinions and concerns on a variety of issues, including health care, the arts, and law enforcement. They were told to rate issues very high, high, low, or very low priority.

Parched: Phoenix Area Per-Capita Water Use Maps

Caitlin McGlade, The Republic | azcentral.com

Interactive maps explore Arizona’s most precious resource.

By examining data from around the valley and state, patterns emerge.

The Colorado River is half-full.

Lake Powell is half-empty.

Lake Mead has shrunk to its lowest

And the reservoirs of Roosevelt Lake and the Salt and Verde rivers are dwindling.

If the Colorado River is declared in a shortage, Arizona could face its first water supply cut.

The good news, as Kathleen Ferris of the Arizona Municipal Water Users Association points out, is that demand in major cities has actually dropped amid conservation efforts. Per capita water usage has leveled or dropped in many Valley cities over the past five years, according to data from the Arizona Department of Water Resources. Still, households in some areas use far more water than the average Arizona resident, at 100 gallons per day. Between that 10-minute shower, which could guzzle 20 to 40 gallons, and that gorgeous lawn you fight to maintain, it’s easy to rack up the numbers.

A series of interactive maps will document how we use one of Arizona’s most precious resources. Beginning with water usage by ZIP codes within the Phoenix Water Services Department coverage area, the maps will build to include other municipalities as well as other information about our water supply.