2. Water Availability in Utah
Growing disconnect between water supply and demand in Utah due to growing
population and high demand for water
Young people are more likely to face the adverse effects of water shortages
throughout their lifetimes
Few substantial changes have been made to address future shortages, perceptions
may be why
Conflicting theories exist for age and environmental concern
3. Environmental Concern & Age over Time
Early literature: age inversely related to environmental concern
Recent studies suggest a flip in the relationship
1999- differences between groups in society were diminishing as everyone was
concerned
2012- Positive relationship between age and environmental concern
?
4. Perceptions of hazards
Concern can be a measure of risk perception, especially concern about a specific
environmental hazard
Studies of real concerns such as water quality or toxic waste show that age is
positively related to concern (Hamilton 1985 and 2007)
Concern over water shortages may be related to age as well
5. Research Expectations
Research Question: Do older people in Utah demonstrate more
concern for water shortages?
Expectation:
The relationship between age and environmental concern has
flipped
How does Utah measure up?
6. Methods: iUTAH iPad Survey
■ Adult shoppers intercepted by
students @ population center
grocery stores
■ Nearly 7,000 responses
■ 40.6% response rate
7. Dependent Variable
Relevant Survey Questions
■ Thinking about the next 10 years in your community,
how concerned are you about water shortages?
■ There is enough water to meet the CURRENT needs
of all the people and businesses in my community
■ There is enough water to meet the FUTURE needs
of all the people and businesses in my community
8. Relevant variables
■ AGE
■ Education
■ Gender
■ Ties to Agriculture
■ Native to Utah
Dependent variables were combined into a
single index variable to capture variability
in the concerns about and perceptions of
water shortages in Utah
18-29
25%
30-39
22%
40-49
17%
50-59
16%
60 and over
20%
Age Profile of Respondents
9. Water Shortage Concern
Ordered Logit Models with individual survey items and combined index variable
VARIABLE Age Female Higher Ed
Utah
Native
Ties to
Agriculture
Water
Shortage
Concern
Positive Positive n.s. n.s. n.s.
Current
Water
Availability
Positive Positive n.s. n.s. n.s.
Future Water
Availability
Positive Positive n.s. n.s. n.s.
Perception
Index
Positive Positive n.s. n.s. n.s.
10. Conclusions
Age has a continuously positive effect on water shortage concern
– Younger people are less concerned about water supply though they stand
to be the most affected by future water supply issues
– Older females are the most concerned about water shortages
Findings support an emerging body of research that suggests a cohort shift in
patterns of environmental concern in the United States
Policy initiatives to secure future water supplies may rely heavily upon support from
older generations
12. WHY?
Previous research suggests a cohort effect at play- those who are the most
concerned now were exposed to environmentalism during their formative years
13. WHAT ELSE?
Water Availability Index: Comparing perceptions of water shortage concern to
reality
Measuring the reliable supply for each city
Accounting for water use
