Residents in metropolitan Washington trust their water utilities as sources for important water-related information, according to the newly released Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments’ (COG) 2023 Community Engagement Campaign (CEC) Drinking Water and Wastewater Survey. The survey, conducted annually by Dinsmore Research on behalf of the CEC, explored residents’ opinions on the most trusted sources of water and wastewater information.

Social media's trustworthiness continued to decline, while public service announcements and water utilities were ranked as the most reliable sources. This pattern has remained relatively consistent over recent years, indicating the public's preference for official and utility-provided information.

The survey uncovered several other noteworthy findings:

Awareness on Proper Waste Disposal: Respondents answered questions about their perceptions of the safety in disposing items down the toilet. Flushable wipes and facial tissues were considered the least harmful, with an increasing trend in perceived safety of flushing facial tissues. The survey underscored the need for more education, such as the "Protect Your Pipes" campaign, to emphasize that facial tissues and flushable wipes should be discarded in the trash, as flushing them can lead to clogs in household and public sewer lines.

Storm Drain Pollution Misconceptions: The survey also addressed perceptions of substances entering storm drains, such as fertilizers, pet waste, car fluids, salt, and herbicides. Using salt (for de-icing) was consistently perceived as the least harmful substance. The findings highlighted the necessity for increased education about the adverse effects of salt on water quality within local waterways and the treatment challenges posed to drinking water utilities

Confidence in Tap Water: According to results from the survey, the majority of metropolitan Washington residents always or mostly choose to drink tap water over bottled water.

COG works closely with area jurisdictions and utilities to engage and inform the public on individual actions to protect and preserve the region’s water sources.

Composed of the region’s water and wastewater utilities and several member jurisdictions who oversee regional water communications and outreach, the CEC at COG uses results from the Water and Wastewater survey to gauge residents’ knowledge, beliefs, and attitudes towards water and wastewater services.

“These survey results underscore the need for continued efforts in educating the public about water safety, proper disposal practices, and reliable sources of information. The annual survey informs our public education efforts, so we can empower more residents with information to promote environmental stewardship, protect our water sources and infrastructure, and allow our residents to feel comfortable choosing to drink tap water,” said Susie Miller, Fairfax Water Public Affairs Manager and Vice Chair of the CEC.

The annual survey also identifies communication preferences, enabling water and wastewater utilities to reach more customers with important information.

MORE: Drinking Water and Wastewater Survey Responses