Water Quality Management - Assignment Example

Water Quality Management Questionnaire Please answer by checking the appropriate box SA: Strongly Agree [] A: Agree [] U:Undecided [] D: Disagree [] SD: Strongly Disagree 1. Do you think it would be a good idea to recycle stormwater for flushing toilets [] SA [] A [] U [] D [] SD 2. The community could save a lot of fresh water by using stormwater for flushing toilets [] SA [] A [] U [] D [] SD 3. I would be willing to pay a $20 surcharge on my water bill to help a project which results in the community flushes using stormwater. [] SA [] A [] U [] D [] SD 4. The government should give a tax subsidy to those houses that are willing to use stormwater for flushing their toilets [] SA [] A [] U [] D [] SD 5. The use of stormwater in flushing toilets could cause damage to the plumbing of a typical house [] SA [] A [] U [] D [] SD 6. If a free of cost project to use stormwater for flushing toilets was initiated, I would be happy for my community to join up with it. Yes [] No [] Analysis of Results Perhaps the first thing which has to be noted about the survey and the results gathered from the survey is that many (7) individuals were unaware of the use of stormwater for flushing purposes although five of the respondents agreed with the idea that flushing does waste water. One respondent actually thought that flushing does not waste any fresh water since the water which comes in the flush is dirty to begin with and does not need recycling at all. However, some level of ignorance about recycling issues is bound to be expected since there is a lot of conflicting information available from various sources. Answers to Question 1 To understand the results of the survey, it would be ideal to evaluate each question at a time and the first question often generated a return question from the respondent who wanted to know more about stormwater and its contents. Once they had been told about stormwater a total of 8 candidates responded that they agreed or strongly agreed with the idea of using stormwater for flushing their toilets. On the other hand, 2 remained undecided about the idea which shows that there is a lot of support for the proposition if it can be effectively implemented by the authorities. Answers to Question 2 At the same time and perhaps due to the lack of awareness about how much water is wasted every time a flush is used only 5 respondents agreed or strongly agreed with the idea that stormwater usage for flushing toilets would save fresh water. With the second question, 2 candidates were undecided about the amount of fresh water which could be saved in the process while three disagreed with the idea which suggests that according to them very little or no fresh water could be saved by the community. Answers to Question 3 Question 3 becomes the most important question for the survey since that is where the issue of money comes up for the people. A $20 surcharge may not be a deal breaker for 5 people since they were undecided about the issue of money but for 3 other individuals it certainly could be since they strongly disagreed with the idea of paying money to help such a project. At the same time, 2 individuals were ready to pay the surcharge which shows that they perhaps cared more about recycling waters than others. Answers to Question 4 On the other hand, question 4 generated the most positive responses since 9 respondents were agreeing or strongly agreeing with the notion that tax subsidies should be given to those houses that are using stormwater for flushing their toilets. One respondent was undecided about the issue but this is certainly a pointed fact that the overwhelming majority would be looking for or wish to receive a tax subsidy if they agreed to have stormwater in their flushes rather than regular water. It seems that many people would be willing to help the environment and assume the responsibility of recycling water if they had to but they would be more willing and supportive of the cause if it helped their pocket books. On the other hand, they would be less willing if there were surcharges attached to the process of if there were some other hoops that they had to go through before they could be a part of the process which saves water. With that idea, I feel that expenses as well as the difficulties involved in the process of saving water would be the two deciding factors which make people oppose or support the given project. If there were few or no difficulties as well as little or no expenses involved in the process, a lot of people can be counted on to accept this idea. On the other hand, if there were a lot of difficulties or if there were high expenses associated with the process, it would be very hard to find people that support the use of stormwater for flushing. Answers to Question 5 The answers given to question 5 make it clear that people have little idea about stormwater and its effect on plumbing since 5 respondents were undecided about what affect stormwater will have on the plumbing of a typical house. Of the individuals surveyed, 2 actually agreed with the statement that stormwater might damage the plumbing while 3 disagreed correctly. While we know that stormwater would have no negative effects on the plumbing of a house that is designed to handle more harsh liquids than just polluted water, the general population seems to be largely unaware of that fact. It can be supposed that some opposition to the idea of using stormwater for flushing toilets stems from this factor but this can be easily overcome with education and creating awareness about the use of stormwater. Publicised case studies from other countries as well as evaluations from scientific studies could help in improving the public’s perception about the uses of stormwater and that would make it easy to gain acceptance for the idea. Answers to Question 6 Question six was the only yes/no type question and it gave a largely positive picture of the community since eight respondents said that they would happily join up with the project to use stormwater in flushes if the cost for the project was not passed on to them. Two refused the join and a possibility of their refusal could be connected with their lack of understanding about the impact of the use of stormwater or their fears about the use of stormwater damaging their house or its plumbing system. Overall, it is easy to see from the given sample that people are willing to use stormwater and help the environment by recycling water but they need to have more awareness about the topic before it can be acceptable for them to use stormwater with ease. Towards this purpose, education and government help would certainly be required and if there can be government subsidies involved, then the process would become much easier. Read More