Grad student asks public to take water conservation survey

ST. GEORGE – Washington County residents are invited to participate in a brief online survey about water conservation, as part of a study of attitudes and behavior about conservation. The survey period ends Monday.

The survey is being conducted by Julie Gillins, a graduate student in Communications at Southern Utah University who also works full-time for the Washington County Water Conservancy District as the water conservation manager. Gillins said she will use the survey results to craft the water district’s conservation message more effectively.

Gillins said the survey is intended to assess the attitude, values and behavior Washington County residents have about water use and conservation. The information gathered by surveying residents will be used to develop messages promoting water efficiency and conservation.

“A lot of times, people know we’re supposed to conserve, but they don’t actually implement it,” Gillins said. “Or they’re thinking they are doing it, but it doesn’t always translate into their behavior.”

Encouraging behaviors such as water conservation can be difficult, Gillins said, because people don’t see immediate results from changing their behavior. This makes community values and attitudes more important.

“People will take the attitude of ‘I’m not going to sacrifice, and have everybody else not sacrifice’ – that type of thing,” Gillins said.

The survey is part of Gillin’s master’s thesis, and the results will be presented at the American Waterworks Association Intermountain Section conference this fall.

The survey, which ends Monday, is titled “Bridging The Gap Between Knowledge And Behavior, Using Social Norms To Find Water Savings.”

How to take the survey

To participate in the project by taking Gillins’ brief survey, click here.

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4 Comments

  • Freds April 14, 2015 at 8:47 pm

    I took that survey, but it never mentioned the best most effective method of getting people to conserve water… Charge more for it! I won’t want to waste water if it means I’m throwing water down the drain

    • anyonemouse April 14, 2015 at 9:22 pm

      … and thiose people that don’t shower often enough before a price hike? I know you immediately though of someone.

      • Free Parking April 14, 2015 at 10:34 pm

        Go back to sleep and quit thinking… Yawwwwwwwn

        • anyonemouse April 15, 2015 at 8:25 am

          More free intellectual nuggets. How do you do it?

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