Introduction • Water is crucial for life, for both

mankind and the environment

• Overconsumption leads to the depletion of clean water sources

• Under consumption is detrimental to health and wellbeing

• Perceptions of water may impact use, which impacts the overall water cycle

Methods • Online mixed-methods survey

• 37 survey multiple choice, ranking scale

and open ended questions on: a) sentiments towards water b) personal consumption habits c) responsibility of providing clean water d) water regulations

• Administered via snowball convenience sampling to:

1. students from the University of Alberta and the University of Calgary

2. individuals from rural Alberta and from around the world

Results Discussion Theme: Responsibility Theme: Scarcity Theme: Conservation

Theme: The value of water

The behaviour of others is a commonly cited reason for a lack of personal responsibility and conservation effort, known as “perception of externalities” (1). Government must remain responsible to ensure reasonable allocation and use. While there is a lack of concern for the possibility of water scarcity, it is not reflected in the respondents’ substantial average conservation efforts. Conservation efforts may be due to a perceived moral obligation; individuals feel obligated to act in environmentally friendly ways for ethical reasons (2, 3). The unique results of those who think water is a private resource indicates a likely dichotomy between thinking that water can be owned versus thinking that water is an open resource. Based on the results, a policy which addresses water as a valuable natural resource may be effective in encouraging conservation; this is reinforced by research which suggests that conservation actions come from self-motivation to conserve a valuable resource (1).

Conclusion Water issues are not often considered by the participants, and there is a large spectrum of beliefs about water consumption, conservation, control, and management which need further investigation. These believes we argue influence what clean water and sanitation policies will be enacted. These believes have a direct influence on the willingness of and the ability to generate water security. More work is needed to investigate the linkage between water perception and the development of water policies.

Perceptions of water Question: How do perceptions influence beliefs and actions?

References (1) Corral-Verdugo V, Frias-Armenta M, Pérez-Urias F, Orduña-Cabrera V, Espinoza-Gallego N. Residential water consumption, motivation for conserving water and the continuing tragedy of the commons. Environmental management. 2002;30(4):527-35. (2) Wise Water Use2011: Available from: http://www.ec.gc.ca/eau-water/default.asp?lang=En&n=F25C70EC-1. (3) Syme GJ, Nancarrow BE, Seligman C. The evaluation of information campaigns to promote voluntary household water conservation. Evaluation Review. 2000;24(6):539-78.

30.0%

67.9%

10.7%

40.7%

51.4%

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10.0%

20.0%

30.0%

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50.0%

60.0%

70.0%

80.0%

Acommodity

A naturalresource

A privateresource

A publicresource

A humanright

Imagine a full glass of clean drinking water. In your opinion, this water is (you may select more than one

answer):

78.6% 71.4%

15.7% 26.4%

20.0%

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In your opinion, whose responsibility is it to ensure a community has access to clean water for drinking and

sanitation? (you may select more than one answer)

0.0% 4.3%

80.7%

6.4%

8.6%

The greatest way to appreciate the value of water is to:

Look at the price of a bottle ofwater in a convenience store

Look at a waterfall

Compare the condition of thosewho have clean water to thosewho do not have clean water

Water does not have a value

Other (please specify)

6.3%

61.4%

25.2%

7.1%

Are you concerned about running out of clean water in your community?

Yes, very concerned

No, not in this life time

Maybe, but not for along time

Not sure

5.68 5.87

4.85

5.98 5.97 5.84

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1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1 being not important, 7 being very important

How important do you think it is to conserve water?

A commodity

A naturalresourceA privateresourceA publicresourceA human right

RatingAverage