Poll: Half Think Water Laws Are Lax
Fifty percent of Americans believe federal laws governing drinking water are not strict enough, according to a scientific opinion poll conducted for the Water Quality Association.
Only 34 percent of respondents stated that they believed federal drinking water quality laws are "fair." Additionally, 38 percent said they do not believe their municipality is doing everything it should to make sure water reaching their home is safe to drink.
Overall, just over two-thirds of Americans -- 67 percent -- are generally concerned about the quality of their household water supply. In a January poll, 55 percent expressed such concern. Similarly, in January, 48 percent of Americans believed that their drinking water is "as safe as it should be." In the March poll only 39 percent believed this.
Americans seem to increasingly believe that responsibility for safe drinking water is a public/private partnership. Seventy percent said they believe that home filtration plays a role, along with their municipality, in ensuring safe drinking water.
The Water Quality Association provides Gold Seal certification for products that remove a variety of contaminants. This certification is conducted using independently developed testing standards.
The random sample surveys were conducted by Applied Research-West, Inc.
The Water Quality Association is a non-profit international trade association representing the residential, commercial, industrial, and small community water treatment industry.