Laura Seelen|Giovanna Flaim|Eleanor Jennings|Lisette N. de Senerpont Domis
Saving water for the future: Public awareness of water usage and water quality
Wageningen University & Research|Netherlands Institute of Ecology|Fondazione Edmund Mach|Dundalk Institute of Technology|Wageningen University & Research|Netherlands Institute of Ecology
fresh water limited resource anthropogenic threat europeans using average 3550 l per capita per day amount increasing steadily incomes rise water saving options actively promoted intensified measures yet come close saving enough water prevent water shortages may seriously affect way life near future projected increases demands good quality fresh water educating public sustainable personal water use water quality threats becomes absolute necessity one way achieve engaging citizens water issues eg citizen science projects using snowball convenience sampling distributed questionnaire among 498 people 23 countries investigate whether people aware much water used perceived threats water quality whether would like help improve water quality results showed amount daily water use greatly underestimated among respondents especially indirect use water production goods services furthermore effects climate change detrimental habits feeding ducks underestimated presumably environmental illiteracy however eightyfive percent 85 participants indicated interest directly working together scientists understand improve local water quality involving citizens improving local lake quality promotes environmental scientific literacy therefore result reduction daily personal water use next iteration water framework directive legislation launched shortly requiring water managers include citizens monitoring schemes engaging citizens help improve surface water quality educate cause effect chains water quality also reduce personal fresh water usage