As part of the WaterWorks! commitment, a baseline telephone survey of adult residents of Tennessee was conducted in 2003 regarding perceptions of water quality across the state and household habits pertaining to the disposal methods of potential pollutants.  Additionally, respondents were asked about their knowledge of nonpoint source pollution and preferences for the financing of water quality improvement.  The survey was conducted using the Random Digit Dialing method.  A total of 871 randomly-selected adult residents of Tennessee were interviewed with a resulting +/- 3.3% margin of error.  The cooperation rate for the survey was 35.9%.

Trained personnel from the Social Science Research Institute at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, using a Computer-Assisted Telephone Interviewing (CATI) System, conducted all interviews.  The survey was designed and analyzed by Dr. Michael M. Gant, Director, Social Science Research Institute and Linda M. Daugherty, Program Director, Social Science Research Institute for the WaterWorks! Program at the Center for Environmental Education, Middle Tennessee State University.  This project is funded, in part, under an agreement with the Tennessee Department of Agriculture, Nonpoint Source Program and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Assistance Agreement #C9994674-02-0.

Water Quality

Statewide, respondents are satisfied with the water quality of rivers/streams in their area, with less than one-fifth rating such quality ‘poor’ or ‘very poor’.   Conversely, less than five percent rated rivers/streams water quality as ‘excellent’.  There are no appreciable differences on this variable between the Grand Divisions of Tennessee.  With respect to place of residence, the only notable difference is the tendency of residents of medium-sized cities to rate rivers/streams as ‘fair’ rather than ‘good’.

Turning to the demographic variables, the most noticeable differences are between income groupings.  Specifically, the lowest income group is the most likely to rate rivers/streams quality as ‘very poor’ or ‘poor’, and the least likely to rate such quality as ‘good’ or ‘excellent’.  The highest income group displays just the opposite pattern.

Drinking Water

These data indicate that, statewide, respondents are quite satisfied with the quality of drinking water.  Less than 15% rated their drinking water as ‘poor’ or ‘very poor’, while about 60% rated their water as ‘good’ or ‘excellent’.  West Tennesseans are much more likely than residents of other parts of the state to rate their water as ‘excellent’.  Rural residents are the least likely to judge the water supply as ‘good’ or ‘excellent’.  Those with less than and a high school education, and those age 18-25, are most likely to rate drinking water as ‘very poor’ or ‘poor’, and least likely to rate the water supply as ‘good’ or ‘excellent’.  Respondents with advanced degrees, and those in the oldest age cohort, are least likely to rate the water supply as ‘very poor’ or poor’, and most likely to rate it as ‘good’ or ‘excellent’.

Lawn Clipping Disposal

Across the state, the most common methods of disposing of lawn clippings are mulching and spraying clippings back into the lawn.  Hardly any of the respondents said they sprayed clippings down a drain.  Middle Tennesseans are most likely to report spraying clippings back into the yard, while mulching is preferred by East Tennesseans.  Residents of West Tennessee are far more likely to report disposing of clippings with other garbage.  Not surprisingly, residents of rural areas are by far the most likely to mulch, while urban dwellers prefer spraying the clippings back into the yard.  With respect to the demographic variables, those in the lowest education group are the most likely to report disposing of lawn clippings in the garbage or in the yard, and least likely to use clippings as mulch.  Further, the tendency to use clippings as mulch increases as income increases.  Finally, African Americans are much more likely to report disposing of clippings through the garbage, while whites tend either to mulch clippings, or dispose of them in the yard.

Fertilizer and Pesticides

About three-fourths of Tennesseans report they do not test their lawns with respect to fertilizers or pesticides.  West Tennesseans are more likely to report such testing.  The large proportion of residents of medium-sized cities who reported ‘not sure’ most likely did so because almost half of these residents live in apartments.  Among the demographic differences of note, the tendency to test increases as education increases; further, the highest income group is by far the most likely to report lawn testing.  Finally, African Americans are more likely than whites to test their lawns.

About 25% of respondents report fertilizing their lawn at least quarterly, while 40% say they never fertilize.  West Tennesseans report the highest frequency of fertilizing. Almost two-thirds of residents of rural areas report never fertilizing their lawns.    Those with less than a high school education are the most likely to report never using fertilizer or pesticides, while the likelihood of reporting that fertilizers or pesticides are never used decreases as income increases.  Finally, African Americans apply lawn chemicals more frequently than do whites.

Car Washing

Among those who reported washing their car at home, either exclusively or in conjunction with a car wash, over 75% say the waste water flows into a yard or grassy area, not a drain.  West Tennesseans were the most likely to report waste water flowing into a drain.  With respect to location of residence, rural residents are much more likely to report such water flowing into a yard than are urban residents, while residents of medium-sized cities are the least likely to report such a drainage method.  Those with less than a high school diploma are most likely to use the yard, and least likely to use a drain, for runoff.  Older respondents, whites, and males are also more likely to report allowing runoff to a yard or grassy area.

Oil Changes

Over 80% of all respondents report having their oil changed at a service center, rather than doing it themselves at home.  The only exception to this occurs among rural residents, over one-fourth of whom report changing their own oil.  Respondents with less education and lower incomes, as well as younger respondents, are less likely to use a service center for oil changes.  Slight differences are also observed between African Americans and whites, and between males and females.

Among those who do change their own oil, the vast majority report disposing of used motor oil by recycling, and only a small fraction report disposing of used oil in their yard.  Respondents with less than a high school diploma, and who earn less than $12,500 annually, are least likely to use a recycling center for oil disposal.  White respondents and males are also more likely to report recycling used oil.

Home Cleaning Products

There is substantial uncertainty among Tennesseans with respect to the status of home cleaning products; over one-fourth are not sure whether these products are biodegradable.  However, of those who could answer this question, most report that some or all of these materials are biodegradable.  Residents of rural areas, and of West Tennessee, as well as lower-income, older, African American, and female respondents, are most likely to report that all of their cleaning products are biodegradable.  With respect to uncertainty, respondents in the lowest education and income strata re more likely to report not being sure whether their cleaning products are biodegradable. 

Among respondents who did not know whether their cleaning products were biodegradable, or who reported these products were not, about two-thirds say they would use environmentally safe cleaning products, even if they were more costly.  Between 20%-25% said it would depend on how much more these materials would cost.  Only about one-in-ten said they would not switch to safer products if they had to pay more.  Residents of medium-sized cities were the most likely to respond ‘no’ to this question, and least likely to say it depends on the price difference.

Willingness to pay more for biodegradable products increases as does the level of education.  Respondents with annual incomes of less than $12,500 would be least likely to purchase such products, as would those over age 65.  No appreciable differences are apparent with respect to race or gender.

Sewers/Septic Tanks

Tennesseans are slightly more likely to rely on sewers over septic tanks for waste disposal.  West Tennesseans are substantially more likely to use sewers, while a majority of East Tennesseans use septic tanks.  Not surprisingly, septic systems predominate in rural areas, while sewers are more common in urban areas.  However, residents of medium-sized cities are far more likely than big city dwellers to report reliance on sewers.  Reported reliance on sewer systems also increases with education and income.  African American respondents are far more likely than whites to rely on sewer systems.

Source of Water

Utility companies are clearly the predominant source of water for Tennesseans, across all categories of place of residence.  The only deviation from this statement is found among residents of rural areas, who are more likely than any other group to report reliance on well water.  However, even here about 63% report getting water from a utility company.  Reliance on a utility company for home water supplies increases as do both formal education and annual income.  African Americans are also more likely to rely on a utility company for water, compared to white respondents.

Water Pollution

At least three-fourths of Tennesseans, regardless of where they live, believe that people engaged in everyday activities are the primary source of water pollution.  Rural Tennesseans are slightly more likely to affirm this belief.  However, the tendency to disagree with this statement increases with education, income and age.

Moreover, at least 80% of Tennesseans believe that even small changes in daily life activities can positively impact water pollution levels.  This tendency is also a function of education and income.  However, the likelihood of disagreeing with this statement decreases as age increases.  No appreciable differences were found on either variable between African Americans and whites, and between men and women.

Pet Waste

About one-half of all respondents believe that household pet waste is a significant source of water pollution, regardless of where they live.  West Tennesseans and rural residents were most likely to concur in this assessment.  Respondents with low annual incomes were more likely to view pet wastes as a problem, while those with the highest incomes were least likely to do so.  African American and female respondents were more likely to view pet wastes as a problem.

Droppings from wild birds are seen to be an even more important source of water pollution, again regardless of residence.  This tendency is slightly stronger among those with no college education, as well as among our older respondents.  Women were substantially more likely than men to perceive wild bird wastes as a significant source of pollution.

Nonpoint Source Pollution

Tennesseans are overwhelmingly unfamiliar with the term “Nonpoint source pollution,” regardless of residence.  The only notable difference on the demographic variables is that men are more likely than women to express familiarity with the term.

Once the term is explained, respondents are in surprising agreement with respect to the important sources of nonpoint source pollution.  Specifically, runoff from agricultural chemicals are seen as the most important source, followed by automobile fluid runoff, construction runoff, and lawn chemicals.  These trends are consistent across all categories of residence.  Respondents with higher levels of education, and higher incomes, are more likely to view agricultural runoff as the most important source, as are white respondents, and men.

 Cost to Improve Water Quality

To cover the costs of improving water quality, should it be necessary, Tennesseans would prefer an assessed fee on water use instead of a general tax increase by a two-to-one margin.  This pattern holds across all residential groupings.  This preference for an assessed fee over a tax increase strengthens with level of education and income.